Sportscasters use enthusiam and unique stories to attract viewers.
Sportscasters, also known as sports broadcasters or reporters, primarily work for television and radio stations. They attend various high school, college and professional sporting events, taping highlights and interviews from the athletes. They then report and discuss the games or events, showing or broadcasting key highlights on television or the radio. Most sportscasters have ebullient and outgoing personalities. They typically hold Bachelor's degrees in communications or broadcasting. They get paid with annual salaries.
Average Salary and Benefits
Sportscasters earn average annual salaries of $71,000, according to August 2011 data from Indeed. Their salaries are highly contingent upon experience, name recognition, the geographical areas where they work and the size and budgets of their television or radio stations. Like other professionals, they receive benefits, such as health and life insurance, paid vacations and holidays and retirement savings plans.
Salary by State
Sportscasters salaries can vary significantly by state. For example, those in Washington, D.C., earn the highest annual salaries, among states listed, at $81,000, according to Indeed. They also earn relatively high salaries in Indiana and California at $77,000 and $76,000 per year, respectively. Those in Maryland earn salaries slightly above the national average at $73,000 annually. And these broadcasting professionals earn below-average salaries in Oklahoma and Colorado at $65,000 and $63,000 per year, respectively.
Highest-paying Cities
Sportscasters tend to earn higher salaries in larger cities with higher profile sports teams. Audiences are higher in these cities which can be a contributing factor to their higher salaries. For example, those in New York City earn the highest salaries, among cities listed, at $88,000, according to Indeed. New York is the largest city in the U.S. They have more professional sports teams than most cities. They likely have more high schools and colleges than most cities, too. Sportscasters also earn relatively high salaries in Boston at $81,000 annually. And those in Chicago earn $74,000 per year in salaries.
Job Outlook
Sportscasting can be a difficult field to enter. Most television and radio stations higher experienced sportscasters to replace those that retire or get fired. That said, jobs for those in the news industry, including sportscasters, are expected to decline 6 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to a December 2009 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The best opportunities for newcomers will be with the smaller broadcasting companies.
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