Sports Announcers: How to Start Your Career

Are you looking to become a sports commentator or announcer? If yes, then you have come to the right place. If you’re passionate about any particular sport and want to be a part of the action taking place, then the sports announcer job may be ideal for you. 

However, just like any other field, sports announcers need to go through a step-by-step process to reach the pinnacle of the industry. You need to have relevant skills along with a bachelor’s degree and work experience to transgress your career. 

But let’s start by getting an overview of the job role of a sports announcer.

What Does A Sports Announcer Do?

Sports announcers are right at the center of the action as they provide updates about all the things happening in the field with their impeccable commentary skills. Many sports announcers work with TV channels, media outlets, or radio stations. 

In addition, announcers can have associations with teams and get the same respect, glamour, and high salary. Reaching that point requires patience, skills, and guidance throughout your career.

How Much Do Sports Announcers Make?

Sports announcers don’t just have the benefits of glamour, but they’re compensated well for their work. The salary range depends on the skills, education, and experience the individual has in the field. 

Nevertheless, people at mid-level can also make a decent salary. So, how much do sports announcers make? Let’s look at the key takeaways from the report of the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics: 

• The median salary for an announcer is $36,770 per annum 
• People with the highest position in the industry can make as much as $94,000 yearly 
• The lowest salary that the bottom 10% get is around $19,580

These figures include all types of announcers working in different industries. 

Education and Requirements

To become a sports commentator, announcer, or newscaster, you need to have a set of skills along with a bachelor’s degree to stand out in the pool of candidates. Your career training during your time in college will also help you find the right job. 

You can look for sports events in college and become a part of the commentary team. Alternatively, you can seek internship opportunities to work with renowned names in the industry. 

But, before that, let’s look at the requirements for the sports commentator education criteria that you need to fulfill.

The minimum education requirement to become a sports announcer is a bachelor’s degree from a reputable institute. Your major in the bachelor’s degree will also determine if you will be a potential candidate for the job you’re applying for. Usually, companies or media outlets hire people with the following majors:

• Communications 
• Multimedia
• Journalism
• TV 

In addition, you can develop other skills to give you an upper hand when it comes to landing sports announcer jobs and internships. You can also develop an engaging voice by taking classes for speech.

Skills 

Besides education and experience, another thing that will help you speed up your career is skills. Many of the top companies in media markets, such as New York or California, expect sports newscasters and announcers to have certain skills. Below is a list of the skills that you need to have to land a decent job: 

• Confident: Sports announcers will be dealing with a huge crowd trying to get them excited. That requires confidence which should translate into their voice. 
• Interpersonal skills: Announcers will have to deal with athletes and media, so good skills are mandatory.
• Good speaking skills: Sports announcers need to have a voice that will engage the people watching the game. Their voice has to be clear with an engaging tone. 
• Writing: There is a chance that sports announcers might have to write material for media houses. 
• Tech-savvy: Individuals must be able to deal with all the equipment necessary for their jobs.

Most Famous Sports Announcers of All-Time

There are some of the best announcers that you can take inspiration from. Here is a list of all the famous sports announcers that you can find in different sports: 

• Kevin Harlan (NBA, NFL, college football, college basketball)
• Mike Mayock (NFL Network for multiple games) 
• Bill Raftery (College football, college basketball, boxing)
• Harry Caray (MLB)
• Jim McKay (Olympics, Kentucky Derby, and more)
• Mike Tirico (NFL)
• Bill Walton (NBA, college basketball)
• Frank Gifford (NFL, Olympics)
• Marv Albert (MLB,NFL,NBA, MLB, Tennis)
• Ian Darke (Soccer, boxing)

How to Get the Job

If you’re looking for sports announcer jobs, there are a few things that you need to go through. You will have a significantly better chance of landing a job if you do these things during your college days. 

• Look for Internships 

Internships are a great pathway to land a good entry-level job. Employers want to hire with some experience, which is why internships will give you the exposure to have the upper hand over other candidates. 

• Build a Strong Network

Networking is crucial when it comes to landing a good job. It is vital for any industry you want to pursue your career. Therefore, make sure you take the time to build strong links with your teachers at your university. It would also help to make connections with influential people in the industry. 

• Write a Brilliant Cover Letter 

With a plethora of resumes to go through, the employer will only pick up those with an engaging cover letter. Draft a good cover letter that can set you apart from the rest of the candidates. 

• Build a Portfolio by Creating Recordings

Build a portfolio and send it to media houses when looking for jobs. By doing so, you will have a better chance of landing a job, as employers will be able to judge you by your work.

Entering the Field

We hope you have a comprehensive insight into the field of sports broadcasting and announcements. To land high-paying sports announcer jobs, you must choose the right path. Join today! JobsInSports.com can connect you with industry leaders through our network.