SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Narrate or write news stories, reviews, or commentary for print, broadcast, or other communications media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, or television. May collect and analyze information through interview, investigation, or observation.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 27-3023.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $36,240 | $3,020 | $697 | $17.42 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $45,370 | $3,781 | $872 | $21.81 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $62,200 | $5,183 | $1,196 | $29.91 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $98,450 | $8,204 | $1,893 | $47.33 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $144,140 | $12,012 | $2,772 | $69.30 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists is $62,200, which is 22% higher. Among the 41 occupations of the field Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media, it ranks number 25 by median pay. With 39,250 jobs, it makes up about 2.5 of every 10,000 jobs in the country. The average ($102,460) is well above the median, a sign that a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up.
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists pay by state
The highest median pay was in District of Columbia ($105,390), New York ($100,770) and Georgia ($81,910). The lowest was in West Virginia ($35,280), Wyoming ($36,040) and Arkansas ($37,450). The most jobs were in New York (5,750), California (4,140) and Texas (2,670). The occupation is most concentrated in District of Columbia, where its share of all jobs is 9.7 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 1,720 | $105,390 | $174,360 | $50.67 |
| New York | 5,750 | $100,770 | $251,110 | $48.45 |
| Georgia | 1,520 | $81,910 | $87,210 | $39.38 |
| Nevada | 370 | $78,550 | $83,550 | $37.76 |
| Rhode Island | 150 | $74,570 | $71,530 | $35.85 |
| Maryland | 580 | $63,680 | $77,570 | $30.61 |
| Michigan | 960 | $62,760 | $81,950 | $30.17 |
| Tennessee | 600 | $62,390 | $70,270 | $29.99 |
| Virginia | 1,110 | $62,140 | $76,820 | $29.87 |
| Utah | 240 | $61,880 | $77,340 | $29.75 |
| Connecticut | 470 | $61,620 | $105,770 | $29.62 |
| Colorado | 590 | $60,770 | $68,760 | $29.21 |
| Illinois | 1,060 | $60,590 | $87,560 | $29.13 |
| New Jersey | 500 | $59,830 | $68,580 | $28.76 |
| Florida | 2,490 | $58,730 | $72,580 | $28.24 |
| North Carolina | 930 | $58,670 | $65,010 | $28.21 |
| Wisconsin | 740 | $57,530 | $62,050 | $27.66 |
| Hawaii | 120 | $56,730 | $73,280 | $27.27 |
| Delaware | 70 | $55,600 | $73,160 | $26.73 |
| Washington | 880 | $54,760 | $71,610 | $26.33 |
| New Mexico | 170 | $54,610 | $64,650 | $26.26 |
| Idaho | 220 | $51,190 | $57,450 | $24.61 |
| Louisiana | 410 | $50,750 | $63,920 | $24.40 |
| Maine | 250 | $50,090 | $54,840 | $24.08 |
| Oregon | 410 | $49,200 | $57,560 | $23.65 |
| Texas | 2,670 | $48,470 | $63,390 | $23.31 |
| New Hampshire | 90 | $48,450 | $56,770 | $23.29 |
| Oklahoma | 400 | $48,210 | $60,420 | $23.18 |
| Montana | 290 | $47,960 | $50,390 | $23.06 |
| South Carolina | 480 | $47,940 | $61,420 | $23.05 |
| Ohio | 1,340 | $47,880 | $59,660 | $23.02 |
| Indiana | 530 | $47,610 | $63,130 | $22.89 |
| Kentucky | 370 | $47,530 | $62,340 | $22.85 |
| Vermont | 90 | $46,970 | $54,200 | $22.58 |
| Missouri | 480 | $46,920 | $56,580 | $22.56 |
| Minnesota | 510 | $46,490 | $49,360 | $22.35 |
| Kansas | 400 | $45,870 | $55,810 | $22.05 |
| Mississippi | 310 | $45,240 | $49,700 | $21.75 |
| Puerto Rico | 220 | $44,870 | $55,790 | $21.57 |
| Alaska | 90 | $43,820 | $55,900 | $21.07 |
| Iowa | 590 | $43,540 | $51,320 | $20.93 |
| South Dakota | 190 | $43,520 | $44,010 | $20.92 |
| Alabama | 530 | $43,440 | $52,660 | $20.88 |
| North Dakota | 160 | $43,420 | $53,840 | $20.88 |
| Arizona | 450 | $43,100 | $55,680 | $20.72 |
| Nebraska | 350 | $40,420 | $47,960 | $19.44 |
| Arkansas | 260 | $37,450 | $40,310 | $18.00 |
| Wyoming | 80 | $36,040 | $39,390 | $17.33 |
| West Virginia | 190 | $35,280 | $43,540 | $16.96 |
| California | 4,140 | not published | not published | not published |
| Massachusetts | 810 | not published | not published | not published |
| Pennsylvania | 1,160 | not published | not published | not published |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Athletes and Sports Competitors$66,710 a year
- Designers, All Other$64,950 a year
- Graphic Designers$62,960 a year
- Actors$29.05 an hour
- Interpreters and Translators$60,170 a year
- Broadcast Technicians$59,570 a year
Common questions
How much do News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists earn in the United States?
The median pay was $62,200 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $36,240 and the highest-paid 10% more than $144,140.
How many people work as News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists?
About 39,250 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.
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