Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Salary
In Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys earn $44,580 at the median, or about $21.43 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $122K for experienced workers. Note: the mean (average) wage is $76K, significantly higher than the median. This typically reflects a mix of employment settings including academic and private practice positions. Prices run high here (RPP 111.13), so that salary is closer to $40,115 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,501/month, about 78% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $45K get you in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue’s Regional Price Parity (111.13). 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys pay in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue tracks closely to the national median, $45K locally vs. $47K nationwide, a 6% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,501/month, which is 79.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 11% above the national average (BEA RPP 111.13), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys in metros near Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $43K | $43K |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $58K | $55K |
| Eugene-Springfield | $47K | $46K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Entry-level broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $122K or more, a $77K 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 |
| South Dakota | $41K | -14% | 230 |
| Wisconsin | $41K | -14% | 580 |
| 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 with published data
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a broadcast announcers and radio disc jockey afford a 2BR apartment alone in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 79.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,501/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,653/month. At HUD’s $2,501/month FMR, rent would take 94% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $45K locally vs. $47K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue compare to the national average for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $47K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 111.13), the purchasing-power equivalent is $40K — below the national median.
How much do broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median is $44,580 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,210, and experienced broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys can clear $121,690. The mean (average) is $75,770, reflecting that some workers earn substantially more. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,155/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,501/month, which eats 79.3% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue has a Regional Price Parity of 111.13 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys salary is worth about $40,115 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.