1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-State Tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
What is a Newspaper Writer?
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a newspaper writer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $25.52 an hour? That's $53,083 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -10% and produce -5,100 job opportunities across the U.S.
What Does a Newspaper Writer Do
There are certain skills that many newspaper writers have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed communication skills, computer skills and interpersonal skills.
How To Become a Newspaper Writer
If you're interested in becoming a newspaper writer, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 73.7% of newspaper writers have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 8.6% of newspaper writers have master's degrees. Even though most newspaper writers have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Newspaper Writer Career Paths
As you move along in your career, you may start taking on more responsibilities or notice that you've taken on a leadership role. Using our career map, a newspaper writer can determine their career goals through the career progression. For example, they could start out with a role such as writer, progress to a title such as editor and then eventually end up with the title communications manager.
Newspaper Writer
Communications Manager
6 Years
Director Of Communications And Marketing
9 Years
Development Director
9 Years
Board Of Directors Member
8 Years
Communications Director
6 Years
Director Of Marketing & Development
9 Years
Show More
Average Salary for a Newspaper Writer
Newspaper Writers in America make an average salary of $53,083 per year or $26 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $74,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $37,000 per year.
Average Newspaper Writer Salary
$53,083 Yearly$25.52 hourly
What Am I Worth?
Roles and Types of Newspaper Writer
There are several types of newspaper writer, including:
Writer And Editor
Role:
When you think of a writer and editor, you might think those job titles are interchangeable. I mean after all, if you write something it's probably a good idea to edit it, too. That's just good sense. So really being a writer and editor isn't much different from being just a writer.
Now, what you'll be writing and editing will depend on what company you work for and what industry you decide to become a part of. Maybe you decide you're interested in the medical field or even science, there are writer and editor jobs for that. Or maybe you really like writing and editing articles about fashion.
The sky is the limit for a writer and editor. You'll be able to find a job, no problem, for whatever you're most passionate about. Not many people can say that about their careers so you should consider yourself lucky.
- Average Salary: $61,482
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Reporter
Role:
It is the reporter's responsibility to put across honest and trustworthy information to the public viewers or listeners as the case may be through different means like print and media. As a reporter, you must make certain that you gather essential and veritable data that is validated by interviews and remarks of those concerned and provides succinct and extensively illuminating materials within a designated time.
You must also effectively collaborate with every worker, remain proficient at all times, and obey the policies and regulations laid by the organization or network. You are also required to modify and review press releases and presentations and check many copies.
As a reporter, you must have good communication, research, problem-solving, and creative skills. You should also possess great attention to detail and digital literacy. Asides from this, you must have a bachelor's degree, although a master's degree can be used as an alternative. A reporter in the United States earns an average yearly salary of $41,720 or $20.06 per hour.
- Average Salary: $46,667
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Writer
Role:
The act of writing, to most, is merely a means of communication, but to a rare few, it's a privilege to express one's self. The profession of being a writer is meant for deep thinkers, careful thought masters crafting their powers through the vessel of each word, bringing gentle awakening into our dormant lives.
There have been so many writers that have inspired the world. Even Barack Obama was a writer before he/she was a speaker. It is not just what he/she says, but the way he/she arranges the words he/she speaks that injects meaning and voice to the audience. We have Ernest Hemingway, a legendary novelist, and a journalist. In his/her wise words "The world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are strong at the broken places." Last but not least, we have JK Rowling in the character of Albus Dumbledore, "Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light."
A modern writer can help people write great copy, curate web content, report journalistic accounts, write scripts for movies, or even write stories for an organization's brand. These days, employers require a combination of skills from prospective writers, such as proficiency with editing software as well as knowledge in a particular industry. It is always good to consider doing something pro-bono at the start to show practical experience. The salary of a writer is, on average, $26 per hour.
- Average Salary: $66,143
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree
States With The Most Newspaper Writer Jobs
Number Of Newspaper Writer Jobs By State
| Rank | State | Number of Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 778 | $57,725 |
| 2 | New York | 308 | $61,999 |
| 3 | Virginia | 271 | $52,904 |
| 4 | Texas | 258 | $49,914 |
| 5 | Florida | 247 | $43,764 |
| 6 | Maryland | 245 | $60,610 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 223 | $68,559 |
| 8 | Illinois | 215 | $51,915 |
| 9 | Washington | 167 | $65,856 |
| 10 | North Carolina | 161 | $50,376 |
| 11 | New Jersey | 147 | $67,320 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | 139 | $56,929 |
| 13 | Oregon | 136 | $51,510 |
| 14 | Georgia | 135 | $50,319 |
| 15 | Colorado | 114 | $45,274 |
| 16 | Minnesota | 103 | $53,046 |
| 17 | Ohio | 98 | $48,200 |
| 18 | Arizona | 86 | $49,136 |
| 19 | Utah | 82 | $48,709 |
| 20 | Michigan | 76 | $60,933 |
| 21 | Missouri | 74 | $52,463 |
| 22 | Indiana | 65 | $46,816 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | 58 | $57,413 |
| 24 | Connecticut | 55 | $57,566 |
| 25 | Tennessee | 48 | $52,518 |
| 26 | South Carolina | 45 | $42,281 |
| 27 | Nevada | 42 | $52,247 |
| 28 | Nebraska | 40 | $48,293 |
| 29 | Alabama | 33 | $46,482 |
| 30 | New Mexico | 28 | $52,566 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | 27 | $51,004 |
| 32 | Kansas | 27 | $48,220 |
| 33 | Arkansas | 26 | $51,270 |
| 34 | Delaware | 25 | $57,336 |
| 35 | Kentucky | 25 | $52,744 |
| 36 | Wyoming | 24 | $50,505 |
| 37 | Iowa | 24 | $50,918 |
| 38 | New Hampshire | 21 | $56,911 |
| 39 | Alaska | 21 | $50,798 |
| 40 | Rhode Island | 20 | $57,370 |
| 41 | Vermont | 19 | $67,460 |
| 42 | Montana | 17 | $46,753 |
| 43 | Idaho | 16 | $47,212 |
| 44 | Hawaii | 14 | $43,855 |
| 45 | Louisiana | 13 | $50,007 |
| 46 | West Virginia | 12 | $49,343 |
| 47 | Mississippi | 11 | $44,647 |
| 48 | Maine | 10 | $67,155 |
| 49 | North Dakota | 9 | $50,731 |
| 50 | South Dakota | 9 | $46,209 |
Top Colleges for Newspaper Writers
2. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-State Tuition
$11,207
Enrollment
30,905
3. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
4. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
5. Howard University
Washington, DC • Private
In-State Tuition
$26,756
Enrollment
6,166
6. San Jose State University
San Jose, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,796
Enrollment
27,125
7. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
8. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-State Tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
9. Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT • Private
In-State Tuition
$48,350
Enrollment
4,103
10. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
In-State Tuition
$53,399
Enrollment
7,356
Top Skills For a Newspaper Writer
The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 15.1% of newspaper writers listed adobe indesign on their resume, but soft skills such as communication skills and computer skills are important as well.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Newspaper Writer Resume templates
Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Newspaper Writer templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Newspaper Writer resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Newspaper Writer diversity
Newspaper Writer Gender Distribution
Female
56%
Male
44%
After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- Among newspaper writers, 56.4% of them are women, while 43.6% are men.
- The most common race/ethnicity among newspaper writers is White, which makes up 66.7% of all newspaper writers.
- The most common foreign language among newspaper writers is Spanish at 43.3%.
Online Courses For Newspaper Writer That You May Like
Advertising Disclosure
1. Become a Journalist: Report the News!
This Specialization will develop and enhance your understanding of the global field of journalism. You'll learn best practices and ethical standards for newsgathering processes and compiling a news report through hands-on projects, peer-to-peer feedback, and issue exploration. You will also study journalism's impact on societal issues and trends, plus explore career opportunities in newspapers, magazine, social media, Internet multimedia, television, radio, corporate and community journalism...
2. Proofreading Power Basics
Learn to proofread from an experienced educator and subject matter expert...
3. How to Find & Correct Writing Errors: The Proofreading Guide
Identify and Remove Embarrassing Mistakes from Documents...
Job type you want
Full Time
Part Time
Internship
Temporary
How Do Newspaper Writers Rate Their Jobs?
Top Newspaper Writer Employers
Most Common Employers For Newspaper Writer
| Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daily Nexus | $65,632 | $31.55 | 2 |
| 2 | Florida State University | $62,245 | $29.93 | 1 |
| 3 | Daily Breeze | $58,233 | $28.00 | 1 |
| 4 | ECHO USA | $53,908 | $25.92 | 1 |
| 5 | Minot State University | $53,453 | $25.70 | 1 |
| 6 | UMass Dartmouth | $50,661 | $24.36 | 1 |
| 7 | Waldorf University | $47,985 | $23.07 | 1 |
| 8 | North Carolina A&T State University | $47,597 | $22.88 | 1 |
| 9 | Chisago County | $47,493 | $22.83 | 1 |
| 10 | Sanford Health | $47,140 | $22.66 | 1 |