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How much do news reporters get paid? It’s a question that often comes up, especially for those considering a career in journalism. Here’s a look at what news reporters in the United States typically earn.
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Salaries of News Reporters
The average salary for a news reporter is $36,000. This can range from $25,000 to $46,000 depending on experience and location. News reporters in larger cities or with more experience can make closer to $46,000 while reporters in smaller towns or with less experience make closer to $25,000.
National Level
The median salary for a news reporter is $37,000. The top 10% of earners make more than $70,000, while the bottom 10% make less than $19,000.
Regional and local news reporters earn a median salary of $35,000. The top 10% earn more than $62,000, while the bottom 10% earn less than $18,000.
Local Level
Reporters who work for small-market television stations or local newspapers often earn salaries at or near the low end of the range. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for all reporters and correspondents in May 2012 was $37,090 per year, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $23,360 and the top 10 percent earning more than $92,560.
Benefits and Perks
News reporters are often seen as glamorous and well-paid professionals. And while it’s true that they can earn a good salary, there are also some drawbacks to the job. Let’s take a look at the benefits and drawbacks of being a news reporter.
National Level
News reporters at the national level typically earn much more than their counterparts at the state or local level. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for reporters was $37,070 in May 2012, with the top 10 percent earning more than $81,490. The BLS reports that the top industries for reporters were as follows:
-Broadcasting (television and radio): $41,530
-Newspapers: $36,330
-Internet publishing and broadcasting: $35,940
-Wired telecommunications carriers: $34,280
Not only do national news reporters earn a higher salary than other reporters, but they also tend to have more opportunities for advancement. For example, many national news reporters start out working for smaller media outlets before eventually landing a job with a major network such as CNN or Fox News.
Local Level
News reporters at the local level typically start out at small-market stations. The median salary for a local television news reporter is $31,110 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2012. The lowest-paid 10 percent of reporters earned less than $20,390, and the highest-paid 10 percent made more than $56,950 that year.
Job Outlook
News reporters research and investigate stories and then relay this information to the public through television, radio or the internet. In order to do this job, they must be able to work well under pressure, be patient and be able to work long hours. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a news reporter was $37,090 in May 2015.
National Level
The median annual wage for reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts was $40,910 in May 2019. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $25,520, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $75,710.
In May 2019, the median annual wages for reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
Broadcasting (except Internet): $44,280
Newspaper, periodical, book, and directory publishers: $43,270
Wired telecommunications carriers: $41,200
Religious organizations: $38,770
Employment services: $37,470
Local Level
In May 2019, the median annual wage for reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts was $41,260. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $25,560, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $80,490.
