Broadcasting (July - Dec 1938)

ilROAIDCASTO and Broadcast Advertising Vol. 15. No. 1 WASHINGTON, D. C, JULY 1, 1938 S3.00 A YEAR— 15c A COPY Broadcast Industry Pays Highest Wages By SOL TAISHOFF Government Surveys Show That $45.12 Average for the P 17,000 Full-Time Employes Tops All Other Trades RADIO broadcasting ranks in first place among all American industries with the highest average weekly pay — $45.12— for its some 17,000 full-time station employes. This was revealed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U. S. Department of Labor upon inquiry from Broadcasting following announcement June 22 by the FCC of the results of its employment questionnaire survey covering the industry. The survey covered 626 responses embracing a total of 631 stations in all power categories. It disclosed that during the week which began March 6, 1938, there were 17,085 full-time employes of stations, including executives, with the weekly average payroll figure at $45.12. There were, in addition, 5,820 part-time paid employes who had average weekly earnings of $18.97. If the week is judged as a typical one for the industry, aggregate payrolls for the year would amount to approximately $45,825,000. This figure, when checked against the 1937 financial statement for the industry prepared by the FCC [Broadcasting, June 15] reveals that substantially more than half of broadcast station income (56%) is expended in payrolls. The FCC income tables showed 624 reporting commercial stations during 1937 had net sales of $81,649,718, and net income of $15,412,128. Ahead of Film Industry According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the motion picture industry ranks next to broadcasting, based on its reports. Incomplete reports for March, 1938, the Bureau said, showed that 10,817 employes in Hollywood and New York received $447,206, or an average of $41.33 per week. Also covering corresponding periods for the month of March were figures for the stock brokerage industry, which showed average weekly wages of $34.47, the insurance industry with $34.17, the durable goods industries including automo tive which ran $29.95, and a general average for all manufacturing industries of $22.46. The FCC analysis was based on questionnaires sent to stations in connection with current inquiries being undertaken by the Commission respecting its new rules and regulations and its chain-monopoly study. These have been made public piecemeal during the last several weeks. Three major studies were undertaken — financial breakdowns [Broadcasting, June 15] program breakdowns and employment [see tables in this issue]. The FCC figures do not cover network employes as such. Owned and operated stations, however, are included. Official figures are not available for the networks but it is roughly estimated that NBC and CBS on a full-time basis employ at least 2,000 more persons, with their pay scales probably above the general average by virtue of major market living costs. Practically all network employes are concentrated in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. The employment study showed that the average pay of general managerial employes at the stations covered was $115.70 per week whereas part-time executives in those capacities received $69.46 per week on the average. Technical heads (chief engineers) received an average of $62.35 weekly on a full-time basis; program directors, $62.12; commercial managers, $90.09; publicity, $59.89. Technicians' Wages Technical employes engaged in research and development received average pay of $48.45 weekly, operators $42.22, and miscellaneous technical employes $23.53. In the program departments, production men had an average weekly pay of $45.72; writers, $35.68; announcers, $34.40; staff musicians, $58.74; staff artists, $34.36, and miscellaneous program employes $35. Outside salesmen averaged Functional Employment and Payroll Data of Stations FCC Table 35 : Covering Week of March 6, 1938 Class of employee Executives: General managerial Technical Program Commercial Publicity Miscellaneous Total II. EmDloyees: A. Technical: Research and development Ooerating Miscellaneous Total !. Program: Production . . Writers Announcers . . Staff musicians Other artists . . Miscellaneous Total . Commercial: Outside salesmen Promotion and merchandising . Miscellaneous Total General and administration: Accounting Clerical Stenographic Miscellaneous Total -E. Miscellaneous . Total II 15.306 III. Grand total 17, Number Employed Weekly Pay Roll Full time Part lime Full Average Part Average Paid Not paid Paid Not paid time paid weekly pay time pay weekly pay 671 30 142 19 $77,639 $115 70 $9 . 857 $69.46 373 4 33 6 23,247 62 35 709 21.72 349 16 2 21,649 62 12 375 22.87 289 6 13 26 . 055 90 09 659 51.09 88 1 14 i 5.294 59 89 406 29.74 9 1.672 185 78 1.779 41 218 28 155,556 87 44 12,006 . 55.20 307 28 1 14,880 48 45 376 13.67 2.869 i 243 5 121.134 42 22 3.100 12.76 17 1 400 23 53 21 21.00 3.193 i 272 6 136,414 42 72 3.497 12.88 872 3 61 10 39,884 45 72 955 15.70 614 1 63 36 21,920 35 68 1,058 16.70 1.890 12 293 14 65,011 34 40 3.352 11.43 2.318 11 991 19 136.176 58 74 16.996 17.16 684 1 2,849 300 23,504 34 36 58,303 20.46 547 285 112 19,132 35 00 4,023 14.12 6.925 28 4.542 491 305 , 627 44 13 84,687 18.65 1.276 52 149 8 64.742 50 75 3.526 23.59 250 7 27 1 12,251 48 90 721 27.21 96 2,951 30 74 1,622 59 176 9 79,944 49 28 4,247 24.13 593 4 168 7 20 . 000 33 71 1.993 11.87 839 2 92 1 18.628 22 20 748 8.14 1.015 2 87 2 23.240 22 90 994 11.44 964 2 265 23,988 24 90 2,244 8.44 3.411 10 612 10 85.856 25 17 5.979 9.76 155 7.497 48 37 15.306 104 5 . 602 516 615.338 40 20 98,410 17.57 17,085 145 5,820 544 $770,894 $45,12 $110,416 $18.97 Note A: — Of the 626 responses accounted for in this tabel, 5 cover 2 stations each. Thus the table actually embraces data for 631 stations Note B: — Includes data for employees whose services at certain key stations include network and other operations. BROADCASTING • Broadcast Advertising July 1, 1938 • Page 11