Media Technical Directors/Managers

Coordinate activities of technical departments, such as taping, editing, engineering, and maintenance, to produce radio or television programs.

SOC: 27-2012.05

Common Job Titles

News Technical DirectorProduction DirectorProduction ManagerTechnical Director

What You'll Need to Succeed

AI-generated

Key competencies for this occupation at a glance

  • KnowledgeFormulate production schedules and resource allocation strategies balancing personnel, equipment availability, and program requirements across concurrent projects.
  • KnowledgeSynthesize creative vision with technical feasibility when developing objectives and strategies for complex multi-platform media productions.
  • KnowledgeEvaluate technical quality and compliance of broadcast content across multiple production departments using monitoring systems and quality control standards.
  • KnowledgeAnalyze production workflows and technical system performance to identify bottlenecks and optimize resource allocation in live broadcast environments.
  • MindsetIntegrate cross-departmental communication and collaborative problem-solving when coordinating taping, editing, engineering, and maintenance teams under time-sensitive production deadlines.
  • KnowledgeAssess technical equipment functionality and maintenance needs using digital editing systems, camera control units, and broadcast infrastructure to ensure operational readiness.
  • Hands-onOperate master control switchers and vision mixers during live radio and television productions, coordinating multiple video and audio sources.
  • MindsetPrioritize competing technical and creative demands while maintaining team morale and ensuring adherence to broadcast standards.
  • KnowledgeInterpret technical specifications and industry standards for telecommunications equipment, computers and electronics, and media production systems.
  • MindsetAdvocate continuous learning and technical skill development by training production staff on emerging broadcast technologies and software platforms.
  • Hands-onPerform troubleshooting and repair of electronic broadcast equipment including audio boards, video servers, and digital video effects units to minimize production downtime.
Wage Data According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Annual wage data for Media Technical Directors/Managers (2024)

Estimated Total Employment (U.S.)

145,270

Wage Distribution by Percentile

MetricU.S.
10% of workers earn the following or less$43,060
10% of workers earn the following or more$198,530
Workers on average earn$114,280

+ indicates wage is at or above the BLS reporting cap ($239,200/year)

Skills & Requirements

Key competencies for this occupation, ranked by importance

  • Communications and Media4.8/5
  • Computers and Electronics4.3/5
  • English Language4.1/5
  • Telecommunications3.8/5
  • Engineering and Technology3.6/5
Tools & Technology

Equipment and software commonly used in this occupation

In-Demand Technology

Frequently requested by employers in job postings

Adobe After EffectsAdobe PhotoshopAtlassian JIRACC++FacebookLinuxMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft SQL ServerMicrosoft WordOracle DatabasePerlPythonSalesforce softwareStructured query language SQLSwiftUNIXUNIX Shell

Technology Skills

Adobe AuditionAdobe Experience Manager (AEM)Apple Final Cut ProAutodesk MayaAvid Technology Media ComposerAvid Technology Pro ToolsAvid Technology audio visual editing softwareCharacter generator software

Tools & Equipment

Analog editing systemsAudio boardsCamera control unitsDesktop computersDigital editing systemsDigital video camerasDigital video effects unitsLaptop computers