So from a salary standpoint, SBE certification does not necessarily translate into a salary advantage. A great deal of information not specifically related to the salary numbers above was collected, and it presents a more fully realized picture of the status of the broadcast industry and those who work in it. For example, an overwhelming majority of broadcast and non-broadcast professionals received salary increases over the last 12 months. In broadcast, the percentage seeing increases remained consistently above 80 percent regardless of job classification. Regardless of job title or industry segment, professionals received, on average, a 4 percent increase.
Age also plays a part in the wages of industry professionals.
Average salaries can be expected to continually rise until the 50 to 59 age range, where they level off. A surprising number of respondents also participate in part-time or freelance work within the industry. Non-broadcast chief engineers are the least likely to take on additional work, with only about 26 percent supplementing their incomes. The results speak volumes about the commitment of large market and small market stations. However, what was not expected was the relatively small amount of funding the majority of stations are aiming toward their impending conversion to digital operations.