News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists Salary
News analysts, reporters, and journalists in the U.S. earned a median of $62,200 a year ($29.91 an hour) and a mean of $102,460 in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median is higher than 51% of the 825 occupations with a published median.
Also called News Reporter, Television Reporter, Staff Writer in job listings. These are O*NET job titles. BLS publishes one figure for the whole occupation, not by specialty, experience or employer; Entry-Level vs. Experienced Pay explains how to read the percentile band.
- Median annual
- $62,200
- Median hourly
- $29.91
- Mean annual
- $102,460
- Jobs on record
- 39,250
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, national file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
Which states pay news analysts, reporters, and journalists the most?
Among the 48 states where BLS published a median, District of Columbia is highest at $105,390, +69% against the national median of $62,200.
News analysts, reporters, and journalists are most concentrated in District of Columbia, at 2.5 of every 1,000 jobs, a location quotient of 9.72, which means the occupation's share of jobs there is 9.72 times its national share. Among metro areas the highest location quotient is 3.78, in Waterbury-Shelton, CT.
- $35,280 to $43,540
- $43,820 to $47,940
- $47,960 to $54,610
- $54,760 to $61,620
- $61,880 to $105,390
- Not published
Territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands) are in the table below.
| State | Median | Hourly | Against U.S. | Price-adjusted | Jobs | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $105,390 | $50.67 | +69% | $95,895 | 1,720 | 2.45 | 9.72 |
| New York | $100,770 | $48.45 | +62% | $93,374 | 5,750 | 0.59 | 2.35 |
| Georgia | $81,910 | $39.38 | +32% | $85,063 | 1,520 | 0.31 | 1.23 |
| Nevada | $78,550 | $37.76 | +26% | $78,566 | 370 | 0.24 | 0.96 |
| Rhode Island | $74,570 | $35.85 | +20% | $72,908 | 150 | 0.30 | 1.17 |
| Maryland | $63,680 | $30.61 | +2% | $60,671 | 580 | 0.21 | 0.83 |
| Michigan | $62,760 | $30.17 | +1% | $65,228 | 960 | 0.22 | 0.86 |
| Tennessee | $62,390 | $29.99 | 0% | $67,911 | 600 | 0.18 | 0.73 |
| Virginia | $62,140 | $29.87 | 0% | $61,461 | 1,110 | 0.27 | 1.07 |
| Utah | $61,880 | $29.75 | -1% | $62,591 | 240 | 0.14 | 0.54 |
| Connecticut | $61,620 | $29.62 | -1% | $59,473 | 470 | 0.28 | 1.09 |
| Colorado | $60,770 | $29.21 | -2% | $58,970 | 590 | 0.20 | 0.81 |
| Illinois | $60,590 | $29.13 | -3% | $60,615 | 1,060 | 0.17 | 0.69 |
| New Jersey | $59,830 | $28.76 | -4% | $54,988 | 500 | 0.12 | 0.46 |
| Florida | $58,730 | $28.24 | -6% | $56,791 | 2,490 | 0.25 | 0.99 |
| North Carolina | $58,670 | $28.21 | -6% | $62,199 | 930 | 0.19 | 0.74 |
| Wisconsin | $57,530 | $27.66 | -8% | $61,140 | 740 | 0.25 | 1.00 |
| Hawaii | $56,730 | $27.27 | -9% | $51,596 | 120 | 0.20 | 0.77 |
| Delaware | $55,600 | $26.73 | -11% | $55,707 | 70 | 0.14 | 0.56 |
| Washington | $54,760 | $26.33 | -12% | $51,171 | 880 | 0.25 | 0.98 |
| New Mexico | $54,610 | $26.26 | -12% | $59,222 | 170 | 0.20 | 0.78 |
| Idaho | $51,190 | $24.61 | -18% | $53,605 | 220 | 0.26 | 1.03 |
| Louisiana | $50,750 | $24.40 | -18% | $57,535 | 410 | 0.21 | 0.83 |
| Maine | $50,090 | $24.08 | -19% | $51,613 | 250 | 0.40 | 1.57 |
| Oregon | $49,200 | $23.65 | -21% | $47,600 | 410 | 0.21 | 0.83 |
| Texas | $48,470 | $23.31 | -22% | $49,940 | 2,670 | 0.19 | 0.75 |
| New Hampshire | $48,450 | $23.29 | -22% | $46,513 | 90 | 0.13 | 0.53 |
| Oklahoma | $48,210 | $23.18 | -22% | $54,882 | 400 | 0.23 | 0.92 |
| Montana | $47,960 | $23.06 | -23% | $50,674 | 290 | 0.57 | 2.24 |
| South Carolina | $47,940 | $23.05 | -23% | $51,137 | 480 | 0.21 | 0.83 |
| Ohio | $47,880 | $23.02 | -23% | $51,609 | 1,340 | 0.24 | 0.96 |
| Indiana | $47,610 | $22.89 | -23% | $51,013 | 530 | 0.17 | 0.66 |
| Kentucky | $47,530 | $22.85 | -24% | $52,718 | 370 | 0.18 | 0.73 |
| Vermont | $46,970 | $22.58 | -24% | $47,949 | 90 | 0.28 | 1.11 |
| Missouri | $46,920 | $22.56 | -25% | $51,664 | 480 | 0.17 | 0.65 |
| Minnesota | $46,490 | $22.35 | -25% | $47,140 | 510 | 0.17 | 0.69 |
| Kansas | $45,870 | $22.05 | -26% | $50,928 | 400 | 0.28 | 1.10 |
| Mississippi | $45,240 | $21.75 | -27% | $52,028 | 310 | 0.27 | 1.07 |
| Puerto Rico | $44,870 | $21.57 | -28% | 220 | 0.23 | 0.92 | |
| Alaska | $43,820 | $21.07 | -30% | $42,810 | 90 | 0.26 | 1.04 |
| Iowa | $43,540 | $20.93 | -30% | $49,611 | 590 | 0.38 | 1.49 |
| South Dakota | $43,520 | $20.92 | -30% | $49,127 | 190 | 0.41 | 1.63 |
| Alabama | $43,440 | $20.88 | -30% | $48,906 | 530 | 0.25 | 0.99 |
| North Dakota | $43,420 | $20.88 | -30% | $48,809 | 160 | 0.37 | 1.46 |
| Arizona | $43,100 | $20.72 | -31% | $42,810 | 450 | 0.14 | 0.55 |
| Nebraska | $40,420 | $19.44 | -35% | $44,860 | 350 | 0.34 | 1.34 |
| Arkansas | $37,450 | $18.00 | -40% | $43,077 | 260 | 0.20 | 0.77 |
| Wyoming | $36,040 | $17.33 | -42% | $38,882 | 80 | 0.29 | 1.14 |
| West Virginia | $35,280 | $16.96 | -43% | $39,420 | 190 | 0.27 | 1.07 |
| California | BLS did not publish a figure | 4,140 | 0.23 | 0.90 | |||
| Guam | BLS did not publish a figure | ||||||
| Massachusetts | BLS did not publish a figure | 810 | 0.22 | 0.88 | |||
| Pennsylvania | BLS did not publish a figure | 1,160 | 0.19 | 0.76 | |||
| Virgin Islands | BLS did not publish a figure |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. A location quotient above 1 means the job is a larger share of local employment than of U.S. employment. BLS does not publish a figure where the sample is too small.
Which state pays news analysts, reporters, and journalists the most after cost of living?
Among the 48 states where BLS published a median, District of Columbia pays news analysts, reporters, and journalists the most after cost of living: its $105,390 median is worth $95,895 a year at average U.S. prices (May 2025 BLS median adjusted by BEA price parities), ahead of New York at $93,374 and Georgia at $85,063.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The price-adjusted figure divides a state's median by its price level.
Highest-paying metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan file, May 2025.
Has pay for news analysts, reporters, and journalists kept up with prices?
Yes: the median for news analysts, reporters, and journalists rose 7.1% after inflation from 2019 to 2025, from $58,081 to $62,200 in May 2025 dollars (BLS OEWS, adjusted with CPI-U). Real pay was below its 2019 level in 2021, with a low of $57,762 in 2021. Before inflation, the median went from $46,270 to $62,200.
| Year | Median as published | In May 2025 dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $46,270 | $58,081 |
| 2020 | $49,300 | $61,812 |
| 2021 | $48,370 | $57,762 |
| 2022 | $55,960 | $61,544 |
| 2023 | $57,500 | $60,778 |
| 2024 | $60,280 | $61,700 |
| 2025 | $62,200 | $62,200 |
Source: BLS OEWS national files, 2019 to 2025; adjusted with CPI-U for May of each year (BLS, via FRED). Occupation definitions changed in 2018 and 2021, so a code's earliest years can cover a slightly different job.
Which industries employ news analysts, reporters, and journalists?
| Industry | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers | $53,310 | 15,990 |
| Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations | $62,790 | 10,390 |
| Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers | $80,180 | 9,730 |
| Telecommunications | $66,080 | 200 |
| Employment Services | $103,620 | 190 |
| Junior Colleges | $31,200 | 100 |
| Spectator Sports | $77,530 | 100 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $53,790 | 60 |
Highest-paying industries with at least 1,000 such jobs: Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers ($80,180); Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations ($62,790); Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers ($53,310).
Source: BLS OEWS research estimates by 4-digit industry, May 2025.
What is the job outlook?
BLS projects employment of news analysts, reporters, and journalists to shrink 5.9% from 2025 to 2035 (about 2,800 fewer jobs), with about 3,400 openings a year from growth and from workers leaving; its 2025 base of 47,100 jobs is wider than the 39,250 OEWS jobs above because Employment Projections also counts the self-employed. The typical entry-level education is bachelor's degree.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
What is the fatal injury rate for arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations?
BLS publishes no rate for news analysts, reporters, and journalists alone; arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations had a fatal injury rate of 1.2 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers in 2024 (margin of error 0.05), against 3.3 for all workers.
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, hours-based rates, 2024, published February 19, 2026. Every occupation's rate.
What the work involves
- Write commentaries, columns, or scripts, using computers.
- Coordinate and serve as an anchor on news broadcast programs.
- Examine news items of local, national, and international significance to determine topics to address, or obtain assignments from editorial staff members.
- Analyze and interpret news and information received from various sources to broadcast the information.
- Receive assignments or evaluate leads or tips to develop story ideas.
- Research a story's background information to provide complete and accurate information.
Source: O*NET 30.3 task statements for SOC 27-3023.
Compare with related jobs
Related occupations from O*NET, same occupation group first; pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Sources used on this page
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: pay and jobs by occupation, state and metro area. bls.gov/oes
- Regional Price Parities, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: the price-adjusted state column. bea.gov
- Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: the inflation adjustment of past pay. bls.gov/cpi
- Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: projected growth and openings. bls.gov/emp
- Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2024, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: the fatal injury rate. bls.gov/iif
- O*NET 30.3, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor: duties and related occupations. dol.gov