Prevailing Wage for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
Prevailing wage for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys (SOC 27-3011.00) is set by the DOL using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. Whether your job offer is for an Anchor, Announcer, or on-air Host, DOL assigns one of four experience levels to every sponsored position, and the wage floor shifts considerably depending on the worksite city.
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Entry-level announcers with limited professional experience, typically following close supervision and handling routine on-air assignments. Employers filing at Level 1 generally sponsor candidates new to broadcast work who are still developing independent judgment and production skills.
Qualified announcers with a track record of independent on-air performance and some specialization. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys, covering mid-career hosts and disc jockeys who work without close supervision.
Experienced broadcast professionals who exercise significant independent judgment, mentor junior on-air staff, or manage complex programming formats. Employers typically file at Level 3 for lead anchors, senior hosts, and announcers with specialized audience or format expertise.
Fully competent senior-level professionals whose work is self-directed, who may set editorial or programming standards, and whose expertise is recognized across the organization. Level 4 filings cover flagship anchors, syndicated hosts, and senior disc jockeys in top markets.
Prevailing wage for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys by OES area
Each area on the map is a DOL OES wage zone. Click any location to see the prevailing wage floor for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys at each level.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for this role and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch the gap between major and mid-size markets
Top metros like Los Angeles and New York carry prevailing wage floors that can be several times higher than mid-size markets. If your offer is based on a secondary city but your actual worksite is a top-market station, the LCA must reflect the higher worksite wage.
Verify your title maps to SOC 27-3011.00
Titles like Podcast Host or Digital Content Host are sometimes filed under media production SOC codes rather than 27-3011.00, which can set a different prevailing wage floor. Confirm your employer's LCA lists the correct SOC before signing an offer.
Exclude signing bonuses from your wage compliance check
DOL requires the annualized base salary to meet the prevailing wage on its own. Signing bonuses paid once at hire and performance bonuses tied to ratings do not count toward satisfying the LCA wage obligation for broadcast announcers.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with on-air hiring history
Broadcast sponsorships are concentrated at a small number of media groups. Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys, letting you focus outreach on stations that have already navigated the LCA process for this SOC.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected across hundreds of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For SOC 27-3011.00, DOL converts the regional wage distribution into four levels based on experience and complexity. Employers must use the OFLC Wage Search to retrieve the certified figure for the specific worksite before submitting a Labor Condition Application.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers entry-level positions under close supervision. Level 2 applies to qualified workers performing standard duties independently, and is the most common level for sponsored announcers and disc jockeys. Level 3 covers experienced professionals with broader judgment, and Level 4 is reserved for fully competent senior talent. The level should match your actual job duties and supervisory independence, not just your years of experience or on-air title.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same announcer role differ so much by city?
DOL derives wages from regional OES surveys, so the floor reflects local market pay rather than a single national rate. Dense media markets like Los Angeles and New York have a high concentration of major broadcast employers competing for on-air talent, pushing surveyed wages significantly higher. The LCA rule requires employers to use the wage for the actual worksite metro, so a network with studios in multiple cities must apply the correct local floor to each location.
What happens if a job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
USCIS will deny the H-1B visa or other sponsored visa petition if the LCA wage does not meet the DOL prevailing wage for the worksite and experience level. An employer who certifies an LCA at a wage they do not intend to pay also risks DOL enforcement, back-pay liability, and debarment from future sponsorships. If your offer letter states a salary below the applicable floor, ask the employer to either revise the offer or file at the correct wage level before submitting the LCA.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search on the DOL website, select SOC code 27-3011.00, and enter the worksite metropolitan area. The tool returns the four-level wage rates certified for that location. Cross-reference with the O*NET occupation profile to confirm the SOC maps correctly to your job duties. Migrate Mate can also help you identify which employers have sponsored this role in particular cities, so you can target outreach to proven sponsors in your target market.
