Keeping a public radio station on the air takes more than a broadcaster. It requires on-air staff, engineers and administrative personnel to operate, many of whom work full-time positions. Because of the full-time commitment required for many public radio workers, public radio stations devote portions of their federal funding and contributions from the public to maintaining staff salaries.
Average Salaries
Compensation for public radio station personnel varies greatly among job specialties. Program directors and business personnel are frequently compensated at levels commensurate with private radio operations, while some reporters or on-air staff receive slightly smaller salaries for their service than they would find in the public sector. The average salary for all workers at National Public Radio is $49,000 as of January 2011, according to Simply Hired. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting lists several job openings at public radio stations around the country, with compensation that varies as widely as $10 per hour for a host and reporter job at Kansas' High Plains Public Radio to a chief engineer position at Western Kentucky University's public radio station that pays between $57,600 and $66,000.
High-Profile Positions
Some individuals in high-profile positions earn salaries high enough to draw criticism from the general public. NPR's Scott Simon, who hosts the network's "Weekend Edition Saturday," received an annual salary of $300,648 in 2009, according to NPR. Other personalities in local media may also earn high salaries.
Volunteers
Many public radio stations rely on the sweat of volunteers as much as they depend upon community contributions to stay on the air. Public radio stations, particularly in small markets, may use volunteers for on-air or engineering positions. Nearly all public radio stations employ volunteers to answer phones during pledge drives and to help run large events.
Public Radio Funding
Although public radio stations receive funding directly from federal and state governments, the portion of tax dollars in their budgets is relatively small. The majority of station funds come from members' contributions, according to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. More than 900 public radio stations operate in the United States, and more than 800 of them receive direct grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, as of 2011. NPR receives 15.9 percent of its operating budget directly from federal subsidies or through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
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