Broadcast and sound engineers install, test, operate and repair electronic equipment used for broadcasting. They must have knowledge of audio, computer, and radio frequency engineering. They maintain digital broadcast automation systems, recording equipment, and radio towers. The median salary for broadcast engineers was $30,690 USD in 2006. Education requirements vary, but a degree in electrical engineering, telecommunications, information systems, or computer engineering is usually required. Licensing is not required in the US.
Broadcast and sound engineers install, test, operate and repair electronic equipment used to broadcast radio, television and cable programs. Broadcast engineers also produce film scores, operate sound for live events and concerts, and record music in recording studios. Included in the broader field of electrical engineering, broadcast engineers must have a working knowledge of audio engineering, computer engineering, and radio frequency engineering.
Duties and Responsibilities
Each broadcasting station requires a broadcasting engineer, although some engineers service an entire broadcasting group or freelance for many stations. Duties consist of maintaining digital broadcast automation systems, digital recording equipment and radio towers. Broadcast engineers also regulate clarity, signal strength, and variety of sounds and colors for radio and television broadcasts. Work can focus on the studio end, transmitter end, and remote transmissions as well.
In recent years, broadcasting has gone digital, saving the industry time and money and also consolidating the day-to-day tasks of the broadcast engineer. Although most broadcast studios and control rooms are digital, it is still necessary for the engineer to understand analogue methods.
Transmission Engineer job data
Competition is intense for transmission engineering jobs, with higher paying jobs generally located in large metropolitan areas. According to the US Department of Labor, 38,000 people in the US identified themselves as broadcast technicians in 2006, and the profession is only expected to grow. In fact, it is expected to grow faster than the average for all professions through 2016. Those with a broad range of skills and knowledge are more likely to find more job opportunities than those with focused skills. In 2006, the median salary for broadcast engineers was $30,690 USD (USD), while the median salary for sound engineers was $43,010 USD.
broadcast engineer
While requirements vary from station to station, broadcast engineers are generally knowledgeable in a wide range of technologies, from modern digital methods to traditional broadcast systems. Some areas of expertise include acoustic engineering, broadcast automation, communications equipment, production switches, and RF satellite linkage.
Education requirements for transmission engineers
Broadcast engineer positions usually require a degree in electrical engineering, telecommunications, information systems, or computer engineering. Depending on the level of technical expertise, in the US, a job seeker may need an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree, or a master’s degree. Licensing in the US is not required to become a transmission engineer.
Some professional organizations related to the field of broadcast engineering include the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE), the Society of Film and Television Engineers (SMPTE), and the Association of Public Radio Engineers (APRE).
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