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radiogeek40208
Guest
Just a question.. in a market like Portland what would the going salary be for a morning show producer or evening talent on a CHR style station?
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On_Radio
Guest
You have got to be KIDDING ME!
HA HA HA !! I'm Market 230ish.. Paying my afternoons... 35K.
It's ALL IN THE NEGOTIATION!
HA HA HA !! I'm Market 230ish.. Paying my afternoons... 35K.
It's ALL IN THE NEGOTIATION!
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Dan_Arthur
Guest
That scrolling text isn't irritating at all. Did your HUGE salary pay for that? NEATO!
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Radio-X
Guest
As scroller man said
It's all in the negotiation and more...
- Some companies pay more than others (duh)
- If you have more experience you might get a little more.
- If a company is needing to cut some costs at the time of employment, you'll be pulling less.
Based on my knowledge of other markets similar in size to Portland, you would pull in anywhere from mid-20's to upper-30's, obviously based on the above factors.
Radio-X
P.S.: Scroller man, your pulling 30k in a 230ish market, while not suprising, makes me feel like I worked for crumbs in market 260ish. I made about $200/month for a weekend shift(s). The afternoon guy made about 14k. Can you say minimum wage???
It's all in the negotiation and more...
- Some companies pay more than others (duh)
- If you have more experience you might get a little more.
- If a company is needing to cut some costs at the time of employment, you'll be pulling less.
Based on my knowledge of other markets similar in size to Portland, you would pull in anywhere from mid-20's to upper-30's, obviously based on the above factors.
Radio-X
P.S.: Scroller man, your pulling 30k in a 230ish market, while not suprising, makes me feel like I worked for crumbs in market 260ish. I made about $200/month for a weekend shift(s). The afternoon guy made about 14k. Can you say minimum wage???
I think I'd rather drive a truck and listen to radio as I drive making $50k - $60k a year with benefits.
Got to balance the work you love with top dollar in a lonely job.. I am looking at possibly moving into a local manager/air position in Portland (the biggest market that nobody realizes)...#23...Consider St.Louis #20, Baltimore #21, Denver-Boulder #22 in front and Pittsburgh #24, Riverside-San Bernadino #25, Cleveland #26 and Sacramento #27 are in back of this (now) 2,001,600... A new member of the '2 million plus' markets... I am wanting feedback on 'where to live, apartment wise' and 'utilities' and if it's better to be in Vancouver, Washington on the north bank of the Columbia or on the Portland/Oregon side... Any feedback from you in "Duck Country"????
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searadiofreak
Guest
Fortunately, or unfortunately, salaries are not set in stone. Most stations will simply try to get the best person for the lowest salary. A young, talented morning show producer willing to make 22K a year will be hired over an experienced night guy wanting 40K without hesitation. It is a decision in an industry with many young people wanting jobs. Too bad, because this industry has a lot of experienced people who can add a lot, but also need a decent salary. That is why so many middle aged people move out of the industry at some point. Radio eats its elders, mostly based on salary requirements, but also based on the inherent need to keep things youthful. Wrong? Absolutely. Reality? Yep.
Cost of living has to play a part in the whole picture....
radioman921 said:
Not as long as there are enough people around to work for chump change. Cost of living? They either live with Mom and Dad or in a van, management doesn't care.
I see the whole jock thing going away soon. The computer can do everything and some stations don't even care of the songs get back announced anymore. Some don't even bother to voice track.
All that's needed is a manager, a few sales people who can voice spots, a secretary to do the logs and a contract engineer. Probably 6 full time people to do the whole thing. Would it be good, probably not but stations seem less interested in quality these days. Money talks!
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Grindlfan
Guest
I had no idea that radio pays so poorly. I don't know how many of you can even work for that kind of money or would even want to. This was an eye opener.
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searadiofreak
Guest
Mike Sheridan paints a very dismal, albeit somewhat accurate picture. If I were much younger would be very hesistant to enter as a jock. Today, I'm just trying to "hold on"...and I'm sure there are many like me. Today's radio reality requires multi-skills, and (I hate this term), multi-tasking. There are still jobs out there, but they are harder to find, especailly the good ones. Fortunately, I've found a good one for me. But even I ask how long it will last? Hopefully, my management will continue to invest in live, local, personality-driven radio, even in a smaller market. That is my dream, and with some positive thoughts, perhaps more will jump on this bandwagon.
The sad thing is my view comes from a larger market!
There are exceptions to the rule. If you happen to work at one of the exceptions you are very fortunate. My advice would be to try and stay as long as you can.
The reason I came over here was to see what the take was on the Eugene market, not Portland. One of the best PD's I ever had is a Cluster Manager there now. I don't know what he is like to work for these days but back when I worked for him he was fantastic!
There are exceptions to the rule. If you happen to work at one of the exceptions you are very fortunate. My advice would be to try and stay as long as you can.
The reason I came over here was to see what the take was on the Eugene market, not Portland. One of the best PD's I ever had is a Cluster Manager there now. I don't know what he is like to work for these days but back when I worked for him he was fantastic!
You might want to check out http://www.pdxradio.com It's more active than this particular board.
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Old Yeller
Guest
Very true.
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doublecashkgb
Guest
I'll take another view. First I was offered a few years ago a PD position in Portland which I turned down due to a bigger market gig, it was well into the 6 figure.
The problem has been for quite some time is there is no room for the career mid-level talent. Morning talent can command major money, as can some afternoon drive talent. However the competent but generic air-talent has no place to go. Younger, hungy talent will undercut them from a salary perspective, & the authentic personality types will always be hired over the stock-jock types. Stock-jocks used to do overnights or less critical dayparts. In the past decade with clustering & voice-tracking there is less need for these type of employees.
Quite fankly a lot of people would be better off not getting into radio unless its sheer joy for the job, beacause they lack the needed charisma/personality/attractiveness needed. Years ago it wasn't as important for everyone to be so marketable, the mid day guy was usually the production director, late nights & over-nights were handled by either up & comers or steady pros. Now each live jock is expected to mutli-task and perform on multiple platofrms both in the station & to the public. Shy, unsure of yourself?, better think again about doing radio.
What can you do to improve? Lots of things. Take acting classes, get in shape, dress well, & network with proven winners. Stay away from the bitter journeyman jocks who long ago decided they had to be in the business, but have yet to achieve much success. They have picked radio as a lifestyle, not as a career. Now they complain about making 30k. Its sad but true.
The problem has been for quite some time is there is no room for the career mid-level talent. Morning talent can command major money, as can some afternoon drive talent. However the competent but generic air-talent has no place to go. Younger, hungy talent will undercut them from a salary perspective, & the authentic personality types will always be hired over the stock-jock types. Stock-jocks used to do overnights or less critical dayparts. In the past decade with clustering & voice-tracking there is less need for these type of employees.
Quite fankly a lot of people would be better off not getting into radio unless its sheer joy for the job, beacause they lack the needed charisma/personality/attractiveness needed. Years ago it wasn't as important for everyone to be so marketable, the mid day guy was usually the production director, late nights & over-nights were handled by either up & comers or steady pros. Now each live jock is expected to mutli-task and perform on multiple platofrms both in the station & to the public. Shy, unsure of yourself?, better think again about doing radio.
What can you do to improve? Lots of things. Take acting classes, get in shape, dress well, & network with proven winners. Stay away from the bitter journeyman jocks who long ago decided they had to be in the business, but have yet to achieve much success. They have picked radio as a lifestyle, not as a career. Now they complain about making 30k. Its sad but true.
radioman921 said:
Not really... an afternoon guy in Market #33 ish was living in the radio station (without permission) till he got a fantastic deal on a new pad. I agree with the guy that said "Radio eats it's elders". Well said too!
The kids are wiser than we were or there isn't as much to attract them to work in radio. Then again stations can exist with a lot fewer bodies now with voice tracking. Not to insult anyone but it makes working on-air a dumb career move.
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doublecashkgb
Guest
If it's the Cumulus cluster that you're hinting about I would stay away even if they have
a great market manager. The place is cursed, managers, program directors & talent fly
in and out of that cluster rapidly. Corporate seems to annually cut about 5-10 percent
of the work-force. It is as poorly run as any cluster I've seen. Eugene is a very classy
city, but the market revenue hasn't grown significantly in years.
a great market manager. The place is cursed, managers, program directors & talent fly
in and out of that cluster rapidly. Corporate seems to annually cut about 5-10 percent
of the work-force. It is as poorly run as any cluster I've seen. Eugene is a very classy
city, but the market revenue hasn't grown significantly in years.
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