How Do You Become a Sports Radio Personality?
Find out what it takes to become a sports radio personality. Discover the educational requirements and the key skills, and learn about possible salaries and job outlook.
Career Information at a Glance
Sports radio personalities discuss scores, talk about big stories and debate hot topics in sports over the airwaves. Typically, radio personalities need a bachelor's degree in broadcasting, journalism or communications to land a job in the field, though there are some jobs in the industry that only require a high school diploma. Want to cut to the chase? Take a glance at the chart below for a brief overview of the career.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Degree Required</b></td><td>Bachelor's degree</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Education Field of Study</b></td><td>Journalism, communications, broadcasting</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Key Skills</b></td><td>Speaking, writing, computer skills</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Job Growth (2020-2030)</b></td><td>10% (for all radio and TV announcers)*</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Median Salary (2020)</b></td><td>$36,770 (for all radio and TV announcers)*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---WhatDoSportsRadioPersonalitiesDo">What Do Sports Radio Personalities Do?</h3><p>Sports radio is one of the rare places where being a loudmouth prognosticator with the gift of gab is truly appreciated. Sports radio personalities announce scores, argue about the biggest sports stories of the day and make predictions for upcoming games. Some do this on their own -- just them, a microphone and their audience -- while others have a partner or a whole team in the studio. Some might take phone calls from audience members to talk about, or argue over, myriad topics.
</p><h3 id="section---DoYouNeedADegreeToBecomeOne">Do You Need a Degree to Become One?</h3><p>There are some jobs out there in the sports radio world that can be snagged with a high school diploma, but that's the exception rather than the rule. It's a competitive industry, so having a bachelor's degree in broadcasting, journalism or communications is generally the minimum to get your foot in the door.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatSkillsDoYouNeedToBecomeASportsRadioPersonality">What Skills Do You Need to Become a Sports Radio Personality?</h3><p>Anyone who talks professionally on the radio needs to have a solid speaking voice, good diction and, of course, a personality. Courses can teach you how to speak well and training can show you how to operate radio equipment, but knowing what to say, when to say it and how to say it is an art form that takes natural talent and tons of practice. After all, if no one is entertained and engaged in the program, the broadcaster won't last long.
</p><h3 id="section---HowMuchDoSportsRadioPersonalitiesMake">How Much Do Sports Radio Personalities Make?</h3><p>Salaries for sports radio personalities can run the gamut from almost nothing to major payday depending on the market in which they work and their popularity. A local sports announcer for a small radio station may garner a part-time salary, while the top names in the game (someone like Dan Patrick) sign multi-million dollar annual contracts. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual salary for all radio and television announcers of $36,770.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatSTheJobOutlookForSportsRadioPersonalities">What's the Job Outlook for Sports Radio Personalities?</h3><p>The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a growth in employment for TV and radio announcers of 10% between the years of 2020 and 2030. More and more radio shows are becoming syndicated (broadcast to a national audience) which will leave less room in the market for local sports radio hosts.</p>