Radio DJ salaries can vary widely.
A radio station DJ, or disc jockey, performs a wide range of duties that begin with broadcasting music over the airwaves. Other duties may include providing commentary about the music played, administering listener contests, taking requests and providing listeners with news and weather updates. The annual salary of a radio station DJ varies according to the market for the station, experience and even gender. According to Payscale.com, the average salary for radio DJ's is between $20,447 and $37,767, as of 2011.
DJ's in Major Markets
Major markets are often defined by major cities such as New York City, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Chicago. According to Arbitron, as of fall 2010 the five largest radio markets in the nation were New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Dallas-Fort Worth. According to SimplyHired.com, as of 2011 the average salary for a radio DJ in New York is $73,000, compared with a national average between $23,000 and $40,000, according to Payscale, as of 2011.
DJ's in Smaller Markets
Most radio station DJ's will begin their careers in smaller markets, with their smaller populations or fewer listeners as compared with the major markets. DJ's in smaller markets such as Indiana and Missouri can expect to earn between $20,000 and $34,000 and $18,000 and $41,000 annually, respectively, according to PayScale, as of 2011. In smaller markets, DJ's may supplement their income with personal appearances at community events, doing voice-over work and making guest appearances at nightclubs or nightlife locations.
Gender
The annual salary for a radio DJ may also depend upon gender. Male DJ's earn decidedly more than female DJ's. A 2011 report by PayScale says the median salary for males is between $24,000 and $40,000. By contrast, the median salary for women is between $21,000 and $36,000. As a rule, men outnumber women in the radio industry, and according to the National Organization for Women only 15 of the top 100 radio talk shows in the U.S. are hosted or co-hosted by women.
Experience
According to a 2011 report by PayScale, radio station DJ's with less than a year's experience can expect to earn between $25,000 and $31,000. By comparison, DJ's with one to 10 years' experience earn a median salary between $17,000 and $35,000. DJ's with 20 years' experience or more start at approximately $29,000 and earn as much as $45,000, according to the report. DJ's who can provide additional services, such as programming and announcing, make more money.
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