News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists salary in the U.S.
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists in the U.S. earn a median of $62,200 a year ($29.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 39,250 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $144,140 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $102,460, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for news analysts, reporters, and journalists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,240 | $17.42 |
| 25th percentile | $45,370 | $21.81 |
| Median | $62,200 | $29.91 |
| 75th percentile | $98,450 | $47.33 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $144,140 | $69.30 |
| Average (mean) | $102,460 | $49.26 |
Half of news analysts, reporters, and journalists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,183.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,591.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,392.31 |
| Weekly | $1,196.15 |
| Hourly | $29.91 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $62,200 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $105,390 | 1,720 |
| New York | $100,770 | 5,750 |
| Georgia | $81,910 | 1,520 |
| Nevada | $78,550 | 370 |
| Rhode Island | $74,570 | 150 |
| Maryland | $63,680 | 580 |
| Michigan | $62,760 | 960 |
| Tennessee | $62,390 | 600 |
| Virginia | $62,140 | 1,110 |
| Utah | $61,880 | 240 |
| Connecticut | $61,620 | 470 |
| Colorado | $60,770 | 590 |
| Illinois | $60,590 | 1,060 |
| New Jersey | $59,830 | 500 |
| Florida | $58,730 | 2,490 |
| North Carolina | $58,670 | 930 |
| Wisconsin | $57,530 | 740 |
| Hawaii | $56,730 | 120 |
| Delaware | $55,600 | 70 |
| Washington | $54,760 | 880 |
| New Mexico | $54,610 | 170 |
| Idaho | $51,190 | 220 |
| Louisiana | $50,750 | 410 |
| Maine | $50,090 | 250 |
| Oregon | $49,200 | 410 |
| Texas | $48,470 | 2,670 |
| New Hampshire | $48,450 | 90 |
| Oklahoma | $48,210 | 400 |
| Montana | $47,960 | 290 |
| South Carolina | $47,940 | 480 |
| Ohio | $47,880 | 1,340 |
| Indiana | $47,610 | 530 |
| Kentucky | $47,530 | 370 |
| Vermont | $46,970 | 90 |
| Missouri | $46,920 | 480 |
| Minnesota | $46,490 | 510 |
| Kansas | $45,870 | 400 |
| Mississippi | $45,240 | 310 |
| Puerto Rico | $44,870 | 220 |
| Alaska | $43,820 | 90 |
| Iowa | $43,540 | 590 |
| South Dakota | $43,520 | 190 |
| Alabama | $43,440 | 530 |
| North Dakota | $43,420 | 160 |
| Arizona | $43,100 | 450 |
| Nebraska | $40,420 | 350 |
| Arkansas | $37,450 | 260 |
| Wyoming | $36,040 | 80 |
| West Virginia | $35,280 | 190 |
Best-paying metro areas for news analysts, reporters, and journalists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $101,670 | 5,360 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $101,020 | 2,390 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $85,040 | 1,090 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $81,640 | 300 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $80,000 | 220 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $79,760 | 190 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $77,180 | 470 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $76,450 | 160 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $74,290 | 340 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $70,350 | 660 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $69,740 | 230 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $67,850 | 60 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $66,780 | 100 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $66,440 | 370 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $65,610 | 840 |
Metro areas with the most news analysts, reporters, and journalists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 5,360 | $101,670 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 2,390 | $101,020 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,090 | $85,040 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 840 | $65,610 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 660 | $70,350 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 570 | $56,000 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 550 | $62,750 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 500 | $59,340 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 470 | $77,180 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 470 | $50,300 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 460 | $63,690 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 390 | $56,890 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 370 | $66,440 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 360 | $61,360 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 340 | $63,940 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Editor | $77,920 | $37.46 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $60,170 | $28.93 |
| Writers and Authors | $76,910 | $36.98 |
| Technical Writer | $90,390 | $43.46 |
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $47,340 | $22.76 |
| Media and Communication Workers, All Other | $73,620 | $35.39 |
| Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners | $72,420 | $34.82 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | — |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,360 | $43.44 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 | $32.31 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $58,100 | $27.93 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-3023. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a news analysts, reporters, and journalists make in the U.S.?
The median salary for news analysts, reporters, and journalists in the U.S. is $62,200 a year, or $29.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $144,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid news analysts, reporters, and journalists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of news analysts, reporters, and journalists in the U.S. earn at least $144,140 a year. The top 25% earn $98,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for news analysts, reporters, and journalists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,240 a year, and a quarter of news analysts, reporters, and journalists earn $45,370 or less.
How many news analysts, reporters, and journalists work in the U.S.?
About 39,250 news analysts, reporters, and journalists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.