Some radio stations now run AI-generated voices between songs, and software can write and read news, weather and traffic. Broadcast announcers and radio DJs still host live shows, interview guests, react to events and give a station its personality.
The short answer: this is one of the jobs where the BLS names AI directly. The ILO's 2025 index rates announcers on radio, television and other media at gradient 2 with a score of 0.47. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 8 percent decline for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys from 2025 to 2035, while other disc jockeys grow 4 percent. Openings for announcers and DJs together come to about 3,700 a year, all from replacing workers who leave. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed announcers are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Announcers on Radio, Television and Other Media | Gradient 2 | 0.47 |
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys | Decline 8% | In total |
| Disc jockeys, except radio | Grow 4% | In total |
| Announcers and DJs, total | Decline 3% | About 3,700 |
The BLS says continuing consolidation of radio and television stations will limit employment of broadcast announcers and radio DJs, and that more radio stations may run without live DJs or with artificial intelligence (AI) DJs. DJs at venues and events, who are not on the radio, are projected to grow.
What AI is taking on
- Synthetic voices that announce songs on automated stations.
- Scripted news, weather and traffic updates.
- Show prep research and social posts.
- Editing shows into podcasts and clips.
What stays with announcers
- Live hosting: reacting in real time to callers, guests and events.
- Interviews: real conversations with real people.
- Local connection: community events and appearances a station builds on.
- Checking AI help: generated scripts can contain wrong facts, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Fewer, larger station groups and AI voices mean fewer on-air radio jobs, while live event and venue DJ work grows. Voice and likeness rights matter when a host's voice is used to train or run an AI DJ. This page is general information, not legal advice.
See also will AI replace journalists?, will AI replace actors? and will AI replace musicians?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish an annual median wage for announcers. The BLS says the education needed to enter varies; its profile explains the routes in. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace radio DJs?
It is cutting some jobs. The BLS projects an 8 percent decline for broadcast announcers and radio DJs from 2025 to 2035 and says more stations may use AI DJs.
Why are radio announcer jobs declining?
The BLS points to consolidation of radio and TV stations and to stations running without live DJs or with AI DJs.
Are any DJ jobs growing?
Yes. The BLS projects 4 percent growth for disc jockeys other than radio, such as at venues and events.
What announcer work stays human?
Live hosting, interviews, local community connection and checking AI-written scripts.