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27th Annual Community Media Salary Survey 2025

Each year the Alliance for Community Media surveys employment data for community media centers and PEG channels across the country. The survey is meant to help organizations provide better support for their staffs and help ACM monitor the financial health of our field.

Note: Audited 501c3 organizations are now required to have comparable salary information available for their audits. This survey will provide the information you need to comply with the new audit requirement.
  • This is a confidential, closed survey. Responding centers participating in the survey will have access to the results of the survey. Additionally, those with an active ACM Membership will have access to the results of the survey.
  • The identity of centers will be designated by the areas listed in "General Location" only. Information containing the access center's name, address, and contact information will be removed from the survey results to preserve confidentiality.
  • Please use data from your 2025 budget, actuals, and practices
  • It's okay to skip questions that do not apply to you, or submit answers in the 'other category'. We know there is a lot of variation in our field.
  • Please respond by Monday, March 2, 2026. Results will be sent to respondents electronically in March 2026.
Thank you for participating!
1.Name of Organization(Required.)
2.City(Required.)
3.State (For data clarity, please spell the full state name)(Required.)
4.Zip Code(Required.)
5.Main Contact Name
6.Main Contact Email(Required.)
7.Type of community you serve(Required.)
8.Type of organization
9.Number of subscribers (If known)
10.List your cable operator(s)
11.Annual Operating Budget in 2025 (enter response as a numerical value)
12.Did you see an increase or decrease in cable revenue from 2024 to 2025?
13.What percentage of your annual operating budget is from cable revenues/franchise fees?
14.Please share a general breakdown of your revenue sources (use this template to describe your organization and add or delete categories as they apply to you: 50% Franchise Fees/cable revenue, 20% Earned Income from services provided, 20% Fundraising support, 10% Unrelated business income (This would include selling advertising, rental income, merchandise sales, travel tours).
15.What percentage of your annual budget did you spend on capital improvements in 2025?
16.What percentage of your annual operating budget in 2025 did you spend on human resources (this should include salaries for full or part time employees, benefits, training that you provide for your staff, staff/volunteer engagement and recognition)
17.How many full-time employees do you have?
18.How many part-time employees do you have?
19.What benefits do you offer?
20.What percentage of your health insurance premium is paid by your organization?
21.What is your General Manager or Executive Director’s annual salary? (Please enter in amount per year) If your GM/ED is a volunteer or the position is unfilled, please put zero. If your staff is hourly, please use your Executive 2025 gross salary total to provide an annual figure for comparison.
22.How many years has your General Manager or Executive Director been in the current position?
23.What is your 2nd highest paid position’s yearly salary? If your staff is hourly, please use the 2025 gross salary total to provide an annual figure for comparison.
24.What is your 2nd highest paid position’s title?
25.Describe the 2nd highest paid position
26.How many years has your 2nd highest paid been in their position?
27.What is your 3rd highest paid position’s yearly salary? If your staff is hourly, please use the 2025 gross salary total to provide an annual figure for comparison.
28.What is your 3rd highest paid position’s title?
29.Describe the 3rd highest paid position
30.How many years has your 3rd highest paid been in their position?
31.What is your 4th highest paid position’s yearly salary? If your staff is hourly, please use the 2025 gross salary total to provide an annual figure for comparison.
32.What is your 4th highest paid position’s title?
33.Describe the 4th highest paid position
34.How many years has your 4th highest paid been in their position?
35.What is your 5th highest paid position’s yearly salary? If your staff is hourly, please use the 2025 gross salary total to provide an annual figure for comparison.
36.What is your 5th highest paid position’s title?
37.Describe the 5th highest paid position
38.How many years has your 5th highest paid been in their position?
39.What is your 6th highest paid position’s yearly salary? If your staff is hourly, please use the 2025 gross salary total to provide an annual figure for comparison.
40.What is your 6th highest paid position’s title?
41.Describe the 6th highest paid position
42.How many years has your 6th highest paid been in their position?
43.What is your 7th highest paid position’s yearly salary? If your staff is hourly, please use the 2025 gross salary total to provide a an annual figure for comparison.
44.What is your 7th highest paid position’s title?
45.Describe the 7th highest paid position
46.What other positions do you have available? Are they full-time or part-time?
47.Do you operate HD channels on your cable system? If so, how many?
48.Does your organization provide program guide information on an Electronic Program Guide?
49.Do you provide closed captioning for content created for the channel?
50. Do you carry closed captioning on programs produced at other facilities?
51.How many active producers did you have in the last 12 months?
52.Do you charge a membership fee at your facility?
53.If you do charge a membership fee, how much is that fee? (Please indicate if the frequency of the fee in your answer; annual, quarterly, lifetime, ect).
54.What other data would you like to see us collect in the future?
Current Progress,
0 of 54 answered