Can Agents Work?

Jobs / Design, media, and writing / 27-4012.00

Broadcast Technicians

Set up, operate, and maintain the electronic equipment used to acquire, edit, and transmit audio and video for radio or television programs. Control and adjust incoming and outgoing broadcast signals to regulate sound volume, signal strength, and signal clarity. Operate satellite, microwave, or other transmitter equipment to broadcast radio or television programs.

US jobs
21,110
Median wage
$59,570 a year
Job family
Design, media, and writing

Can agents do the work of broadcast technicians?

We read the evidence at the level of the job family, Design, media, and writing:

  • Task levelPartialOnly adjacent evidence. OSWorld-Verified includes tasks in image, slide, and document apps, and the best agent passes 90.2% of all its computer tasks. No task-level benchmark in our collection scores the quality of design or writing work.
  • Project levelNot yetOn the Remote Labor Index, which includes graphic design, video, 3D, audio, and web projects from freelance platforms, the best agent completed 15.8% of projects to a standard a client would accept. GDPval deliverables score higher (84.9% wins or ties against professionals, reported by OpenAI), but those tasks are one-shot and fully specified.

Benchmarks for the job family

These cover work in design, media, and writing, not always this occupation's tasks.

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • Play and record broadcast programs, using automation systems.
  • Report equipment problems, ensure that repairs are made, and make emergency repairs to equipment when necessary and possible.
  • Set up, operate, and maintain broadcast station computers and networks.
  • Observe monitors and converse with station personnel to determine audio and video levels and to ascertain that programs are airing.
  • Monitor strength, clarity, and reliability of incoming and outgoing signals, and adjust equipment as necessary to maintain quality broadcasts.
  • Control audio equipment to regulate volume and sound quality during radio and television broadcasts.
  • Monitor and log transmitter readings.
  • Regulate the fidelity, brightness, and contrast of video transmissions, using video console control panels.
  • Select sources from which programming will be received or through which programming will be transmitted.
  • Install broadcast equipment, troubleshoot equipment problems, and perform maintenance or minor repairs, using hand tools.
  • Preview scheduled programs to ensure that signals are functioning and programs are ready for transmission.
  • Record sound onto tape or film for radio or television, checking its quality and making adjustments where necessary.
Other job titles for this occupation (56)

Audio Engineer · Board Operator · Broadcast Engineer · Broadcast Maintenance Engineer · Broadcast Operations Engineer · Broadcast Operations Technician (Broadcast Ops Tech) · Broadcast Systems Support Engineer · Control Operator · Production Engineer · Radio Technician (Radio Tech) · Audio Operator · AV Tech (Audio Visual Technician) · Control Room Operator · Control Room Technician (Control Room Tech) · Digital Production Assistant · Master Control Engineer · Media Technician (Media Tech) · Microphone Operator · Mixer Operator · News Gathering Technician (News Gathering Tech) · News Production Assistant · Operations Technician (Ops Tech) · Production Technician (Production Tech) · Projection Engineer · Radio Engineer · Radio Field Engineer · Radio Frequency Technician (Radio Frequency Tech) · Radio Frequency Test Technician (Radio Frequency Test Tech) · Radio Station Audio Engineer · Radio Station Engineer · Remote Broadcast Engineer · Signal Engineer · Sound Controller · Sound Mixer · Sound Person · Sound Technician (Sound Tech) · Station Engineer · Studio Control Operator · Studio Engineer · Studio Operation Engineer · Studio Technician (Studio Tech) · Tape Recordings Engineer · Telecasting Engineer · Telecasting Technician (Telecasting Tech) · Telecine Operator · Transmission Operator · Transmitter Engineer · Transmitter Operator · TV Audio Engineer (Television Audio Engineer) · TV Engineer (Television Engineer) · TV Field Engineer (Television Field Engineer) · TV Operator (Television Operator) · TV Tech (Television Technician) · Video Control Engineer · Videotape Operator (VT Operator) · Wire Photo Operator