The Average Salary of a Full-Time Technical Director

Some technical directors supervise television camera and equipment crews.

A technical director is a hands-on professional who directs the technical aspects of broadcasting such as newscasts or other productions. This can include radio, television and more recently, the Internet. Directing broadcasts includes scheduling studios, selecting equipment and scheduling technical staff. Salary for a full-time technical director can vary based on factors such as experience and the industry in which the full-time technical director works.

Qualifications

Although there are no formal educational requirements for this role, employment opportunities may increase for those who receive vocational training or a degree in audio/visual technology. Payscale reported the most popular educational path for technical directors was a bachelor of arts in radio and television.

In the broadcast industry, technical directors need a thorough understanding of both the production and technical aspects of broadcasting. This knowledge often is acquired by working as a lighting director or camera operator or as another type of broadcast worker, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says..

National Average

Full-time technical directors often receive a base salary and bonuses based on their performance. In November 2010, Payscale reported a national average base salary ranging from $32,215 to $64,267 per year. Average bonuses ranged from $254 to $2,457 per year. The average total compensation package ranged from $30,050 to $62,459 per year. These professionals also receive health benefits such as medical, dental and vision care. Only 10 percent of technical directors reported receiving no benefits.

Industries

Technical directors can be found in a variety of broadcast industries such as television, church, news and advertising agencies. The highest wages were reported in the television broadcasting industry, where technical directors earned average salaries from $36,189 to $64,401 per year. Advertising agencies paid average salaries ranging from $34,329 to $59,919 per year.

Professional Experience

Salary can increase for full-time technical directors as they gain professional experience. Payscale reported 37 percent of these professionals had between one and four years of experience, 30 percent had between five and nine years of experience and 33 percent had more than 10 years of experience. Technical directors with one to four years of experience earned average salaries ranging from $29,551 to $43,749 per year. Those with more than 10 years of experience earned average annual salaries from $40,695 to $97,318.

References

• Payscale: Salary Snapshot for Television Technical Director Jobs
• Payscale: Salary Snapshot for Television Technical Director Jobs by Experience
• CareerPlanner.com: Technical Director Job Descirption
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Actors, Producers, and Directors
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Broadcasting
• MediaColege.com: The Television Technical Director (TD)