Technical Directors and Managers: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

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Technical Directors and Managers

Technical Directors and Managers coordinate activities of technical departments, such as taping, editing, engineering, and maintenance, to produce radio or television programs.

Salary
$96690
Becoming One
Hard
Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality



Job description

Technical Directors and Managers coordinate activities of technical departments, such as taping, editing, engineering, and maintenance, to produce radio or television programs.

  • Direct technical aspects of newscasts and other productions, checking and switching between video sources and taking responsibility for the on-air product, including camera shots and graphics.
  • Switch between video sources in a studio or on multi-camera remotes, using equipment such as switchers, video slide projectors, and video effects generators.
  • Observe pictures through monitors and direct camera and video staff concerning shading and composition.
  • Follow instructions from production managers and directors during productions, such as commands for camera cuts, effects, graphics, and takes.
Read more about what does a Technical Director and Manager really do at work and what is it like being and working as one.



Salary

Average salary
$89840 per year

Average hourly wage
$43 per hour


Technical Directors and Managers with little to no experience tend to make between $34450 and $48520 while the more experienced ones can earn over $110350 per year.

Top 5 paying states Hourly Annual
NY $56 $115,610
CA $55 $115,080
NJ $44 $92,180
DC $43 $89,390
CT $41 $84,900

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Technical Director and Manager is to move to a higher paying state like NY. Right now, the highest paying states for Technical Directors and Managers are NY, CA, NJ, DC and CT.

However, a higher pay at NY doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at NY might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Technical Director and Manager is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.


Requirements

Recommended degree level
Bachelor’s degree

We asked other Technical Directors and Managers what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a Bachelor’s Degree followed by a High School Diploma.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

Radio and Television
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
Directing and Theatrical Production
Musical Theatre
Dramatic/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Other
Read more about how to become a Technical Director and Manager and the degree, training and education you need.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Technical Director and Manager.

PROS
Suitable for people who likes to start and carry out projects
Suitable for people who wants independence and likes to work on their own and make decisions
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
Very high salary (top 25% highest paid careers)
CONS
Not suitable for people who likes to help and teach others
It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week)

What is the job like

Job satisfaction
68%

Is this job meaningful
49%


68% of Technical Directors and Managers said they were satisfied with their job and 49% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.


Is this right for me

Best personality for this career
The Entrepreneurs and The Builders

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.



Learn more about Technical Directors and Managers

Summary (You are here)
Job Description
Salary
Requirements
Quiz

Related career information

Technical Directors and Managers job description, Technical Directors and Managers salary, Technical Directors and Managers information, what is the job of a Technical Director and Manager like, pros and cons about Technical Directors and Managers, colleges and universities for Technical Directors and Managers, is Technical Directors and Managers the right career for me, careers in Art, Entertainment and Sports

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