Communications Technology
Students study the technical systems behind modern communications, including broadcast equipment, networking infrastructure, and digital media production tools. Graduates typically pursue careers as broadcast engineers, telecommunications technicians, media production specialists, and technical support professionals for media companies. This major emphasizes hands-on technical skills over theory.
What Communications Technology graduates do
Your career will be hands-on, bringing media to life from behind the scenes. You might spend your days as a film and video editor, assembling raw footage, color-grading scenes, and syncing audio to build a final narrative for a web series or commercial. Or, you could be a broadcast technician at a TV station, monitoring live signals and troubleshooting equipment under pressure. Other paths include working as a sound engineer, setting up microphones for a podcast or mixing audio for a live concert.
Entry-level roles often involve assisting senior technicians, but with experience, you’ll lead your own projects, from managing post-production workflows to engineering complex live broadcasts. While digital content creation roles like video editing are growing, traditional broadcast and sound engineering positions face some headwinds.
AI will significantly change your day-to-day work by automating routine tasks like initial edits and audio cleanup. The jobs aren't vanishing, but your focus will shift from manual execution to using AI tools for speed and making the final creative and technical judgments. Adaptability will be key to your success.
Students weighing Communications Technology often also consider Audio & Video Technology, Publishing, and Film & Photography — compare earnings, ROI, and AI outlook side by side.
Where Communications Technology graduates work
Common career paths for Communications Technology graduates, with median salaries, projected growth, and AI exposure per role. Roughly 9,600 combined openings per year across these roles.
| Role | Median Pay | Annual Openings | 10-yr Growth | AI Exposure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Media and communication workers, all other
|
$71,770
$53K–$100K
|
3,000 | +2.7% | Low · 0% |
|
Film and video editors
|
$70,980
$50K–$102K
|
3,600 | +4.0% | High · 53% |
|
Sound engineering technicians
|
$66,430
$48K–$100K
|
1,200 | -1.7% | Moderate · 43% |
|
Broadcast technicians
|
$53,920
$37K–$80K
|
1,800 | -2.8% | High · 52% |
Best schools for Communications Technology
Schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score (earnings × AI resilience × ROI × job-market size). Top 4 of 4.
Highest Earnings Top 5
| CUNY York College
NY |
$27,064 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
PA |
$23,826 |
| Full Sail University
FL |
$15,893 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon
PR |
$11,940 |
Best ROI Top 5
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
PA |
11.5x |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon
PR |
10.0x |
| CUNY York College
NY |
8.2x |
| Full Sail University
FL |
0.5x |
Related majors
Similar fields of study often offered alongside Communications Technology.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Communications Technology offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Communications Technology trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Communications Technology
What's the typical salary after a Communications Technology degree?
Across 4 schools, Communications Technology graduates earn an average of $19,681 per year in their first year after graduation. Earnings range from $11,940 to $27,064 depending on the school.
How exposed is Communications Technology to AI disruption?
AI exposure for Communications Technology is rated "High." With 41% of tasks potentially affected by large language models, some career functions face meaningful automation pressure in the coming decade.
Which school has the best Communications Technology program?
Based on our DegreeOutlook Score (combining earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and ROI), East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania ranks #1 for Communications Technology with a score of 28/100 and graduate earnings of $23,826/yr.
What's the outlook for a Communications Technology degree?
On average, Communications Technology graduates earn 7.6x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a moderate return — school choice matters significantly.