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News anchors make a good salary, but it varies greatly depending on the size of the market and the station.
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News Anchor Salaries by Market Size
News anchors make a pretty penny. In fact, the average news anchor salary is $84,380 per year, with the top 10% earning much more. But there’s a lot of variation in news anchor salaries, and it all depends on the size of the market.
Small Market
News anchors in small market areas make a median salary of $35,000. Though the pay is not as high as in larger markets, the cost of living is usually lower, so news anchors in small markets can still live relatively comfortably. News anchors in small market areas typically have less experience than those in larger markets, so they may be paid less.
Medium Market
In a medium market, the average salary for a news anchor is $52,000 a year, according to a 2012 report by RTDNA and Hofstra University. However, salaries can range from $43,000 to $65,000, depending on the size and scope of the station.
Large Market
The average salary for a news anchor in a large market is $117,500 a year, according to the Radio Television Digital News Association.
News Anchor Salaries by Experience
News anchors make a lot of money. The median annual salary for a news anchor is $83,300, but experienced news anchors can make upwards of $700,000. So, if you’re considering a career in news, you’re in it for the money. But how do news anchor salaries compare to other professions?
Entry-Level
News anchor salaries can vary widely, depending on experience, market size, and other factors.
The average salary for entry-level news anchors is $30,000-$50,000 per year. Salaries tend to be higher in larger markets, and may increase with experience.
News anchors typically have a bachelor’s degree in journalism or a related field. Many news organizations also require anchors to have some prior experience working in news, either as a reporter or producer.
Mid-Level
Anchors with some experience under their belts can expect to make around $40,000 to $60,000 per year. These reporters have usually worked in small or medium-sized markets and have a good understanding of how to deliver the news both in person and on the air.
Anchors with more experience can expect salaries in the $60,000 to $100,000 range. These reporters have most likely worked in large markets and have extensive experience in both reporting the news and delivering it on air. They may also have some management experience.
The most experienced news anchors can expect to make upwards of $100,000 per year. These reporters have worked in major markets and have a wealth of experience in both reporting the news and delivering it on air. They may also have significant management experience.
Senior-Level
News anchors who have been in the business for a while and have proven their worth to their respective news stations can make quite a bit of money. Salaries at this level usually start at $75,000 and can go up to $500,000 or more per year.
News Anchor Salaries by Network
Ever wonder how much your favorite news anchors make? Well, it varies depending on the network. ABC News anchors make an average of $12 million per year, while Fox News anchors make an average of $5 million per year. That’s a pretty big difference! Here is a breakdown of news anchor salaries by network.
Local Network
The average salary for a news anchor at a local network is $38,647 per year, according to Glassdoor. Salaries range from $30,000 to $55,000 per year, with the highest salaries typically going to anchors with the most experience.
National Network
National news anchors make an average salary of $75,000 per year, with a range from $40,000 to $145,000. The most popular networks for news anchors are ABC, NBC and CBS, where salaries tend to be on the higher end.
News Anchor Salaries by Gender
It’s no secret that men make more money than women in nearly every profession. The median salary for men in the United States is $51,640 while women only make a median salary of $41,554. This gender pay gap is even larger for news anchors. The typical male news anchor earns $85,000 while the typical female news anchor only earns $75,000.
Male News Anchors
While there is no doubt that news anchors play a vital role in our society, there is often debate about how much they should be paid. Are male and female news anchors paid equally? And how do their salaries compare to other professionals in the media industry?
There is no simple answer to these questions, as salaries can vary drastically depending on factors such as experience, location, and the size of the market. However, we can take a look at some data to get a better idea of the landscape.
According to a 2018 study by TheWrap, the average annual salary for a male news anchor was $85,000, while the average for a female news anchor was $75,000. While this may seem like a significant disparity, it’s important to keep in mind that this is an average and that individual salaries can vary greatly. For example, according to Glassdoor, the average salary for a male news anchor in New York City is $104,000, while the average for a female news anchor in New York City is $87,000.
It’s also worth noting that news anchors are not necessarily the highest-paid professionals in the media industry. For example, according to Variety, the average annual salary for a late-night talk show host is $16 million. So while there is certainly room for improvement when it comes to gender parity among news anchors, it’s important to keep perspective and remember that there are many other factors at play when it comes to salaries in the media industry.
Female News Anchors
The median salary for female news anchors is $58,333. The highest-paid female news anchor is Diane Sawyer, who earns $12 million per year. The highest-paid female news anchor in local news is Lisa McRee, who makes $1 million per year.
