Radio Program Director

Also called: PD, Music Director (Radio)

Decides what a radio station plays and who hosts, and manages the on-air sound.

A day in the life

A program director studies ratings, picks which new songs go into rotation, coaches hosts, and plans contests and promotions.

Pay over a career

Starting
$40k
Typical
$70k
High
$140k

Approximate.

Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.

Training

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.

Outlook

Shrinking. Radio consolidation means one PD often runs several stations.

Will it last? Our AI estimate

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.

Start now, in high school

Classes: Music, Business, Broadcast journalism, Marketing.

Official data: O*NET occupation 27-2012.

More Broadcasting, Radio & Podcasting careers

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.