Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Media and communication equipment workers, all other, support and operate a wide range of media-related technologies. Nationally, this occupation employs about 15,000 people, with a median annual salary of $67,190. The field combines technical, mechanical, and interpersonal strengths, with top skills including creativity and innovation, computers and information technology, mechanical ability, and strong speaking and listening. Workers also benefit from adaptability, project management, customer service, fine motor, interpersonal, and leadership skills. Projected employment growth of 0.6% and about 1,000 annual openings indicate a relatively steady flow of opportunities over time. Career options exist across multiple states and metro areas, with some locations offering notably higher salaries or larger employment bases. For individuals comfortable working with equipment, technology, and people, this role can provide a blend of hands-on work and problem solving. With a typical education requirement of a high school diploma or equivalent, the occupation may be accessible to a wide range of job seekers who are ready to build and apply these skills.
Media and communication equipment workers, all other, earn a national median annual salary of $67,190. Pay varies meaningfully by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, Virginia reports a median salary of $117,640, and Colorado reports $86,370. New York shows a median of $76,020, while California and Massachusetts list $64,550 and $60,960 respectively. At the metro level, salaries can be even higher in certain areas. For example, the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro posts a median of $121,680, and the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro reports $110,780. Other leading metros such as New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA show median salaries of $66,650 and $64,550. These figures suggest that earnings potential can be significantly influenced by where you work, with some metros and states offering compensation well above the national median for this occupation.
Nationally, media and communication equipment workers, all other, account for about 15,000 jobs. The projected employment growth rate is 0.6%, indicating modest expected expansion over the projection period. With approximately 1,000 annual openings, there should be continuing opportunities for new entrants as well as for experienced workers changing jobs. All of the highlighted top states and metro areas share the same projected growth rate of 0.6%, suggesting a similar growth expectation in those regions. While the overall employment base is relatively small compared with some larger occupations, the steady projected growth and consistent annual openings may appeal to individuals looking for a stable path rather than rapid expansion. Job seekers can use these figures to gauge how frequently positions may become available and to plan their job search strategies accordingly, including considering geographic mobility to states or metro areas that combine employment, growth, and opportunity scores that align with their goals.
Location plays a significant role in opportunity for media and communication equipment workers, all other. Among states, California stands out with the largest employment at 3,890 and a median salary of $64,550, paired with an opportunity score of 67.38. New York and Virginia both show relatively smaller employment levels of 200 and 400, but higher median salaries of $76,020 and $117,640, with opportunity scores of 65.78 and 54.96. Colorado and Massachusetts offer median salaries of $86,370 and $60,960 and opportunity scores of 56.97 and 65.87, respectively. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ have high opportunity scores of 77.42 and 77.27. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA combine high median salaries ($121,680 and $110,780) with solid opportunity scores. These differences give job seekers options to prioritize higher pay, larger job markets, or stronger overall opportunity scores when choosing where to focus their search.
The typical education requirement for media and communication equipment workers, all other, is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the occupation accessible to individuals who have completed secondary education and are ready to develop targeted skills. Success in this field draws on a blend of technical, mechanical, and people-oriented abilities. Key skills include creativity and innovation, computers and information technology, and mechanical aptitude, which support work with media and communication equipment. Project management and adaptability help workers organize tasks and respond to changing situations. Fine motor skills are important for precise, hands-on activities, while customer service and interpersonal skills support effective interaction with others. Speaking and listening, along with leadership abilities, round out the profile, enabling workers to communicate clearly and coordinate with colleagues or clients. Together, the education level and skill set suggest that focused skill-building and on-the-job learning can be central to long-term advancement in this occupation.
Use CareerGPS Pro to compare markets, understand the tradeoffs, and focus on the places with the strongest potential.
