News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$62,200
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$29.90
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$144,140
entry level starts ~$36,240
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 39,000 employed

How much do News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists make?

The median pay for News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists in the United States is $62,200 per year — about $29.90 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $36,240, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $144,140.

That is $810 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists salary range by percentile

Half of all News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists earn between $45,370 and $98,450 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$36,240$17.42
25th percentile (early career)$45,370$21.81
50th percentile (median)$62,200$29.90
75th percentile (experienced)$98,450$47.33
90th percentile (top earners)$144,140$69.30

Highest-paying states for News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists pay at $105,390 a year, followed by New York ($100,770) and Georgia ($81,910). At the other end, West Virginia posts the lowest median at $35,280 — a gap of $70,110 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1District of Columbia$105,390$50.67+69%
2New York$100,770$48.45+62%
3Georgia$81,910$39.38+32%
4Nevada$78,550$37.76+26%
5Rhode Island$74,570$35.85+20%

Workforce and education

About 39,000 people work as News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $102,460 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists make in the United States?
The median News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists salary in the United States is $62,200 per year, or about $29.90 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $36,240, while the top 10% of earners make $144,140 or more.
How does News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists median of $62,200 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists the most?
District of Columbia is the highest-paying state for News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists, with a median salary of $105,390 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists need?
For most positions, a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists work in the United States?
About 39,000 people were employed as News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

Related salaries

Other arts & media roles with similar pay.

Lighting Technician

$68,060
median pay · 9,000 employed

Public Relations Specialist

$74,750
median pay · 283,000 employed

Floral Designer

$37,360
median pay · 41,000 employed

Interior Designer

$67,190
median pay · 72,000 employed

Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys

$47,340
median pay · 21,000 employed

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film

$74,990
median pay · 22,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.