Also called: PD, Music Director (Radio)
Decides what a radio station plays and who hosts, and manages the on-air sound.
A program director studies ratings, picks which new songs go into rotation, coaches hosts, and plans contests and promotions.
Approximate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Broadcasting degree plus on-air or production experience.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Broadcasting, Music Business.
Shrinking. Radio consolidation means one PD often runs several stations.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. Automation and AI playlisting let one PD run many stations, cutting jobs; local programming judgment stays human.
Classes: Music, Business, Broadcast journalism, Marketing.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-2012.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.