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News reporter salary
Average news reporter salary
$41,481
Understanding News Reporter Salaries
The salary of a news reporter can vary widely based on several factors, including location, years of experience, and the specific media outlet. As of October 2025, the average salary is $41,481 per year, translating to approximately $20 per hour. However, this figure can be significantly higher in major markets like New York or Los Angeles.
Salary by State
In states such as California and New York, salaries for news reporters can exceed $50,000, reflecting the demand for skilled professionals in these regions. Conversely, reporters in smaller markets may see lower compensation. It's also essential to consider the type of reporting; specialized reporters, such as those in investigative journalism or with expertise in digital media, may command higher salaries.
Career Progression
For those entering the field, starting salaries may be around $30,000, but with experience and a solid portfolio, it's possible to reach higher pay brackets. Continuous education and networking play crucial roles in career advancement in journalism. Understanding these dynamics is vital for those considering a career as a news reporter.
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Where can a News Reporter earn more?
News reporter salary estimates from across the web
Average news reporter salary by state
The highest-paying states for news reporters are New York, New Jersey, and Maryland. The lowest average news reporter salary states are Utah, South Carolina, and South Dakota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for news reporters
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $54,106 | $26.01 |
| 2 | Vermont | $47,787 | $22.97 |
| 3 | Maryland | $48,666 | $23.40 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $53,113 | $25.54 |
| 5 | Missouri | $44,869 | $21.57 |
| 6 | Michigan | $46,522 | $22.37 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $48,075 | $23.11 |
| 8 | California | $46,425 | $22.32 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $45,102 | $21.68 |
| 10 | Washington | $44,232 | $21.27 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $44,327 | $21.31 |
| 12 | Kentucky | $47,187 | $22.69 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $43,930 | $21.12 |
| 14 | Maine | $47,185 | $22.69 |
| 15 | Ohio | $44,698 | $21.49 |
| 16 | Virginia | $42,761 | $20.56 |
| 17 | Delaware | $45,987 | $22.11 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $40,999 | $19.71 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $41,822 | $20.11 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $42,890 | $20.62 |
| 21 | Tennessee | $41,655 | $20.03 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $39,321 | $18.90 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $42,012 | $20.20 |
| 24 | Arkansas | $40,414 | $19.43 |
| 25 | Florida | $40,093 | $19.28 |
| 26 | Nevada | $40,200 | $19.33 |
| 27 | Iowa | $38,159 | $18.35 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $40,816 | $19.62 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $39,715 | $19.09 |
| 30 | Arizona | $39,469 | $18.98 |
| 31 | Illinois | $38,698 | $18.60 |
| 32 | Georgia | $39,086 | $18.79 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $35,188 | $16.92 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $38,842 | $18.67 |
| 35 | Texas | $37,180 | $17.88 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $35,676 | $17.15 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $35,478 | $17.06 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $36,610 | $17.60 |
| 39 | Oregon | $35,669 | $17.15 |
| 40 | Alabama | $37,591 | $18.07 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $36,727 | $17.66 |
| 42 | Colorado | $35,292 | $16.97 |
| 43 | Utah | $34,573 | $16.62 |
| 44 | Kansas | $36,068 | $17.34 |
| 45 | Indiana | $36,589 | $17.59 |
| 46 | Alaska | $31,561 | $15.17 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $36,196 | $17.40 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $34,122 | $16.40 |
| 49 | Idaho | $32,009 | $15.39 |
| 50 | Montana | $31,487 | $15.14 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $33,329 | $16.02 |
Highest paying cities for news reporters
The highest-paying cities for news reporters are New York, NY, Edison, NJ, and Baltimore, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $54,390 | $26.15 |
| 2 | Edison, NJ | $53,145 | $25.55 |
| 3 | Baltimore, MD | $48,777 | $23.45 |
| 4 | Burlingame, CA | $48,768 | $23.45 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $48,093 | $23.12 |
| 6 | Columbus, OH | $44,605 | $21.44 |
| 7 | State College, PA | $44,600 | $21.44 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $44,392 | $21.34 |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $44,267 | $21.28 |
| 10 | Arlington, VA | $43,555 | $20.94 |
| 11 | Knoxville, TN | $42,573 | $20.47 |
| 12 | Fayetteville, AR | $40,135 | $19.30 |
| 13 | Pensacola, FL | $39,902 | $19.18 |
| 14 | Duluth, GA | $39,139 | $18.82 |
| 15 | Glenview, IL | $38,987 | $18.74 |
| 16 | Saint Paul, MN | $38,941 | $18.72 |
| 17 | McAllen, TX | $37,985 | $18.26 |
| 18 | Des Moines, IA | $37,786 | $18.17 |
| 19 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $36,813 | $17.70 |
| 20 | Colorado Springs, CO | $35,442 | $17.04 |
News reporter salary details
A news reporter's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $64,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a news reporter's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| 75th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
| Average | $41,481 | $3,457 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
Highest paying news reporter jobs
The highest paying types of news reporters are sports reporter, anchor, and writer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journalist | $60,828 | $5,069 | $29.24 | 11,488 |
| Production Editor | $53,275 | $4,440 | $25.61 | 62,877 |
| Editor | $52,107 | $4,342 | $25.05 | 15,115 |
| Anchor | $70,715 | $5,893 | $34.00 | 2,986 |
| Editing Internship | $35,035 | $2,920 | $16.84 | 49,315 |
| Content Editor | $61,694 | $5,141 | $29.66 | 18,586 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for news reporters, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Paul Mitchell Ph.D.
Coordinator of Recruitment and Retention, University of Nevada - Reno
Top companies hiring news reporters now:
Which companies pay news reporters the most?
News reporter salaries at The Monitor Group and The Washington Post are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average news reporter salary at companies like Saint Xavier University and Fox News are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Monitor Group | $99,817 | $47.99 |
| 2 | The Washington Post | $88,797 | $42.69 |
| 3 | Saint Xavier University | $77,430 | $37.23 |
| 4 | Fox News | $69,856 | $33.58 |
| 5 | BuzzFeed | $61,053 | $29.35 |
| 6 | Dow Jones | $58,696 | $28.22 |
| 7 | Entravision Communications | $57,388 | $27.59 |
| 8 | Townsquare Media | $56,527 | $27.18 |
| 9 | NBCUniversal | $53,236 | $25.59 |
| 10 | MediaNews Group | $52,242 | $25.12 |
| 11 | Outside In | $52,128 | $25.06 |
| 12 | VitalChek | $50,156 | $24.11 |
| 13 | University of Alaska | $49,433 | $23.77 |
| 14 | POLITICO | $48,378 | $23.26 |
| 15 | Sinclair Broadcast Group | $48,248 | $23.20 |
| 16 | iHeartMedia | $47,632 | $22.90 |
| 17 | Asian American Civic Association | $45,094 | $21.68 |
| 18 | TEGNA | $45,085 | $21.68 |
| 19 | Medical Billing | $43,431 | $20.88 |
| 20 | South Central Communications | $42,530 | $20.45 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
News reporter salary trends
The average news reporter salary has risen by $8,586 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average news reporter earned $32,895 annually, but today, they earn $41,481 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for news reporters over the last decade.
Compare news reporter salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average news reporter salary over time
Compare news reporter salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
News reporter salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $41,500 | $19.94 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $40,100 | $19.27 | +2.9% |
| 2023 | $38,900 | $18.71 | +4.6% |
| 2022 | $37,100 | $17.86 | +3.9% |
| 2021 | $35,700 | $17.15 | +3.9% |
Recently added news reporter salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corporation for Public Broadcasting | News Reporter | Ketchikan, AK | 06/30/2025 | $50,700 |
| Fox Corporation | Per Diem News Reporter | Washington, DC | 06/29/2025 | $105,394 |
| The Daily Beast | Night Breaking News Reporter | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $55,200 |
| University of Portland | Beacon News Reporter | Portland, OR | 06/22/2025 | $67,828 |
| Fox | News Reporter | Austin, TX | 06/22/2025 | $50,000 |
| Nexstar Media | Reporter I, News | Urban Honolulu, HI | 06/22/2025 | $43,827 |
| Nexstar Media Group Inc. | Reporter I, News | Urban Honolulu, HI | 06/20/2025 | $43,827 |
| Hearst | News Reporter | Jacksonville, IL | 06/19/2025 | $31,200 |
| Fox | News Reporter | Ione, WA | 06/14/2025 | $105,394 |
| Nbcuniversal | Early News Multiplatform Reporter, Telemundo 52 LOS Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | 06/10/2025 | $100,000 |
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