Technical Directors/Managers
Coordinate activities of technical departments, such as taping, editing, engineering, and maintenance, to produce radio or television programs.
AI Impact Summary
Technical Directors/Managers faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 33/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 59% of all analyzed occupations. Of 15 analyzed tasks, 3 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Technical Directors/Managers skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Cybersecurity Fundamentals Path
by Pluralsight
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
15 tasks analyzed
Follow instructions from production managers and directors during productions, such as commands for camera cuts, effects, graphics, and takes.
Supervise and assign duties to workers engaged in technical control and production of radio and television programs.
Direct technical aspects of newscasts and other productions, checking and switching between video sources and taking responsibility for the on-air product, including camera shots and graphics.
Monitor broadcasts to ensure that programs conform to station or network policies and regulations.
Observe pictures through monitors and direct camera and video staff concerning shading and composition.
Act as liaisons between engineering and production departments.
Operate equipment to produce programs or broadcast live programs from remote locations.
Test equipment to ensure proper operation.
Set up and execute video transitions and special effects, such as fades, dissolves, cuts, keys, and supers, using computers to manipulate pictures as necessary.
Switch between video sources in a studio or on multi-camera remotes, using equipment such as switchers, video slide projectors, and video effects generators.
Schedule use of studio and editing facilities for producers and engineering and maintenance staff.
Train workers in use of equipment, such as switchers, cameras, monitors, microphones, and lights.
Confer with operations directors to formulate and maintain fair and attainable technical policies for programs.
Collaborate with promotions directors to produce on-air station promotions.
Discuss filter options, lens choices, and the visual effects of objects being filmed with photography directors and video operators.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Follow instructions from production managers and directors during productions, such as commands for camera cuts, effects, graphics, and takes. | 72Estimated | 78.0% | 10% | |
| Supervise and assign duties to workers engaged in technical control and production of radio and television programs. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 10% | |
| Direct technical aspects of newscasts and other productions, checking and switching between video sources and taking responsibility for the on-air product, including camera shots and graphics. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 15% | |
| Monitor broadcasts to ensure that programs conform to station or network policies and regulations. | 16.68Observed | 55.9% | 5% | |
| Observe pictures through monitors and direct camera and video staff concerning shading and composition. | 35Estimated | 29.0% | 8% | |
| Act as liaisons between engineering and production departments. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 5% | |
| Operate equipment to produce programs or broadcast live programs from remote locations. | 20Estimated | 17.0% | 5% | |
| Test equipment to ensure proper operation. | 65Estimated | 59.0% | 5% | |
| Set up and execute video transitions and special effects, such as fades, dissolves, cuts, keys, and supers, using computers to manipulate pictures as necessary. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 8% | |
| Switch between video sources in a studio or on multi-camera remotes, using equipment such as switchers, video slide projectors, and video effects generators. | 75Estimated | 63.0% | 8% | |
| Schedule use of studio and editing facilities for producers and engineering and maintenance staff. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 4% | |
| Train workers in use of equipment, such as switchers, cameras, monitors, microphones, and lights. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 4% | |
| Confer with operations directors to formulate and maintain fair and attainable technical policies for programs. | 40Estimated | 43.0% | 5% | |
| Collaborate with promotions directors to produce on-air station promotions. | 35Estimated | 29.0% | 4% | |
| Discuss filter options, lens choices, and the visual effects of objects being filmed with photography directors and video operators. | 62.8Observed | 52.1% | 4% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 33.1%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$83,480
per year
Mean Wage
$114,280
per year
Employment
145K
workers
Wage Range
$43,060 - $198,530
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
See all transitionsCareer/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
27%Median salary: $63,910
Higher risk than 26% of other occupations
Audio-Visual and Multimedia Collections Specialists
28%Higher risk than 28% of other occupations
Producers
30%Median salary: $83,480
Higher risk than 36% of other occupations
Directors- Stage, Motion Pictures, Television, and Radio
30%Median salary: $83,480
Higher risk than 36% of other occupations
Program Directors
31%Median salary: $83,480
Higher risk than 43% of other occupations
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School
32%Median salary: $63,620
Higher risk than 49% of other occupations
Audio and Video Equipment Technicians
33%Median salary: $54,830
Higher risk than 57% of other occupations
Sound Engineering Technicians
36%Median salary: $66,430
Higher risk than 68% of other occupations
Desktop Publishers
40%Median salary: $53,620
Higher risk than 80% of other occupations
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Technical Directors/Managers professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Persuasion
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change
Related News
Recent articles about AI affecting this occupation
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