Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Salary
In Columbia, MO, broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys earn $40,300 at the median, or about $19.37 an hour. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.44), which stretches that salary to about $45,058 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,160/month, about 42.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $40K get you in Columbia?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbia’s Regional Price Parity (89.44). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys
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What this looks like in Columbia
Pay for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys in Columbia runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $47K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,160/month, which is 41.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.44 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeyss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys in metros near Columbia, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $52K | $55K |
| Kansas City | $45K | $48K |
| Springfield | $45K | $51K |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $48K | $50K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, MO
Entry-level broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $34K spread from bottom to top.
Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $81K | +72% | 1,460 |
| Maryland | $74K | +57% | 290 |
| New Jersey | $71K | +50% | 190 |
| Indiana | $62K | +30% | 1,040 |
| Nevada | $60K | +28% | 160 |
| Massachusetts | $60K | +27% | 280 |
| Florida | $56K | +19% | 990 |
| Rhode Island | $55K | +16% | 90 |
| Pennsylvania | $52K | +10% | 830 |
| Hawaii | $51K | +8% | 140 |
| Colorado | $51K | +7% | 310 |
| Texas | $49K | +4% | 960 |
| Tennessee | $48K | +2% | 970 |
| Arizona | $48K | +1% | 410 |
| North Carolina | $48K | +1% | 830 |
| Idaho | $47K | -1% | 50 |
| Illinois | $47K | -1% | 770 |
| Michigan | $47K | -1% | 650 |
| Oregon | $46K | -2% | 240 |
| Utah | $46K | -3% | 190 |
| New Hampshire | $46K | -3% | 70 |
| Missouri | $45K | -4% | 470 |
| Nebraska | $45K | -5% | 280 |
| Alaska | $45K | -5% | 80 |
| Washington | $44K | -6% | 620 |
| Virginia | $44K | -6% | 460 |
| Maine | $44K | -7% | 170 |
| Minnesota | $44K | -8% | 750 |
| Ohio | $42K | -10% | 910 |
| Georgia | $42K | -11% | 490 |
| Wisconsin | $41K | -14% | 580 |
| South Dakota | $41K | -14% | 230 |
| New Mexico | $39K | -18% | 190 |
| Alabama | $39K | -19% | 300 |
| North Dakota | $39K | -19% | 180 |
| Iowa | $37K | -22% | 320 |
| Wyoming | $37K | -22% | 50 |
| Kentucky | $36K | -24% | 340 |
| Arkansas | $36K | -24% | 300 |
| Oklahoma | $36K | -24% | 300 |
| West Virginia | $35K | -25% | 130 |
| Vermont | $35K | -26% | 110 |
| Kansas | $35K | -26% | 440 |
| Montana | $35K | -26% | 130 |
| Mississippi | $34K | -28% | 160 |
| Louisiana | $33K | -30% | 190 |
| South Carolina | $31K | -35% | 150 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Columbia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a broadcast announcers and radio disc jockey afford a 2BR apartment alone in Columbia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $40K, rent takes 41.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,160/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys in Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,716/month. At HUD’s $1,160/month FMR, rent would take 68% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is broadcast announcers and radio disc jockey a high-paying job in Columbia?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $40K here vs. $47K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Columbia compare to the national average for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys?
Columbia pays $40K median vs. the U.S. average of $47K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $45K — below the national median.
How much do broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys make in Columbia, MO?
The median is $40,300 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,600, and experienced broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys can clear $63,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,775/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,160/month, which eats 41.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys salary go in Columbia?
Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.44 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys salary is worth about $45,058 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.