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Careers›Roles›Board Operator
Mid-Level

Board Operator

Behind the glass at a radio or broadcast station, you run the board: mixing audio, hitting cues, and keeping the signal clean and on time. The unseen hands that make a broadcast sound seamless.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
C
R
I
A
E
S
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Realistichands-on, practical
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Board Operators
Technology & Information · 79%Entertainment & Media · 7%Education · 6%Professional Services · 3%Government · 3%Administrative Services · 1%
Job markets for Board Operators
Employment concentration · ~102 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Arts & Media
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Board Operator

Day to day, it's live and unforgiving: running audio, switching sources, and monitoring levels through a show, where cues hit on time or they don't. You follow a clock and a log, often solo in a control room. Dead air is the thing you never let happen.

What's harder than it looks is the constant low-grade vigilance: hours of routine punctuated by moments you can't fumble. Shifts can be odd: overnights, weekends, holidays, the pay is often modest, and automation has thinned the ranks. It's frequently a first rung into broadcast.

It draws people who are focused, reliable, and calm when it goes sideways. If you need variety or daytime hours, the role can wear. But if you like the rhythm of live broadcast, and being the steady hand behind the sound, it can be a satisfying way in.

What people in this role value
SupportModerate
AchievementModerate
IndependenceModerate
Working ConditionsLower
RelationshipsLower
RecognitionLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Technology & Information$121K+90%
Energy & Utilities$114K+80%
Professional Services$113K+77%
Financial Services$98K+54%
Wholesale & Distribution$89K+40%
Compared to Arts & Media average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Board Operators (SOC 27-4012.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Arts & Media →
Board OperatorOperating EngineerOperations TechnicianProduction EngineerEngineering TechnicianVideo OperatorSignal EngineerTransmitter EngineerVideo Production AssistantStation EngineerAudio OperatorControl EngineerFacsimile OperatorStudio CoordinatorMicrophone OperatorControl Room OperatorRadio Station EngineerReliability TechnicianControl Room TechnicianStudio Control OperatorSound Effects TechnicianDigital Production AssistantRadio Station Audio EngineerBroadcast Operations EngineerBroadcast Maintenance Engineer+1 more
Exploring the Board Operator career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$29K–$115K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
21K
U.S. Employment
-2.8%
10yr Growth
2K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$68K$65K$62K$59K$57K201920202021202220232024$57K$68K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Critical ThinkingActive ListeningOperations MonitoringMonitoringWritingComplex Problem SolvingSpeakingActive LearningTime ManagementReading Comprehension
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
27-4012.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midOperating Engineer$71KseniorSenior Operating Engineer$71KmidOperations Technician$66KmidProduction Engineer$78KmidEngineering Technician$64KseniorSenior Engineering Technician$64K
View all Arts & Media roles →

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.