SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Play prerecorded music for live audiences at venues or events such as clubs, parties, or wedding receptions. May use techniques such as mixing, cutting, or sampling to manipulate recordings. May also perform as emcee (master of ceremonies). Radio disc jockeys are included in “Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys” (27-3011). Excludes “Musicians and Singers” (27-2042), “Audio and Video Technicians” (27-4011), and “Sound Engineering Technicians” (27-4014).
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 27-2091.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | An hour |
|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $13.50 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $16.91 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $21.61 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $37.50 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $60.17 |
BLS publishes only hourly pay for this occupation, because many of these workers are paid by the hour and do not work a full year of 2,080 hours.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $24.51 an hour. The median for Disc Jockeys, Except Radio is $21.61, which is 12% lower. Among the 41 occupations of the field Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media, it ranks number 36 by median pay. With 7,920 jobs, it makes up about 0.5 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Disc Jockeys, Except Radio pay by state
The highest median pay was in Hawaii ($54.55), Wisconsin ($27.69) and South Dakota ($27.27). The lowest was in Nevada ($12.00), Oregon ($15.55) and Missouri ($15.83). The most jobs were in California (2,190), Texas (820) and New York (450). The occupation is most concentrated in Wisconsin, where its share of all jobs is 2.4 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 70 | $54.55 |
| Wisconsin | 360 | $27.69 |
| South Dakota | 50 | $27.27 |
| North Carolina | 100 | $26.30 |
| New York | 450 | $25.51 |
| Illinois | not published | $22.87 |
| Washington | not published | $22.79 |
| Idaho | 100 | $22.33 |
| Arizona | 80 | $22.15 |
| Tennessee | not published | $21.75 |
| Colorado | 60 | $20.91 |
| Georgia | 140 | $20.69 |
| Texas | 820 | $18.06 |
| Florida | not published | $16.40 |
| Missouri | 360 | $15.83 |
| Oregon | 40 | $15.55 |
| Nevada | not published | $12.00 |
| California | 2,190 | not published |
| Iowa | 130 | not published |
| Massachusetts | 150 | not published |
| Michigan | 360 | not published |
| Nebraska | 80 | not published |
| New Jersey | 220 | not published |
| Ohio | 190 | not published |
| Pennsylvania | 100 | not published |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$47,340 a year
- Coaches and Scouts$47,320 a year
- Craft Artists$46,080 a year
- Photographers$44,660 a year
- Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials$40,710 a year
- Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$39,390 a year
Common questions
How much do Disc Jockeys, Except Radio earn in the United States?
The median pay was $21.61 an hour in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How many people work as Disc Jockeys, Except Radio?
About 7,920 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.
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