News reporters make a median wage of $37,090 per year as of May 2016, and earn an average wage of $17.81 per hour.
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Salaries of News Reporters
Wondering how much money news reporters make? Salaries for news reporters vary depending on experience, geographical location, and employer. News reporters who are just starting out in their careers can expect to make around $30,000 a year. Those with more experience can make upwards of $50,000 a year.
National Level
The average salary for a news reporter is $37,080 per year. News reporters who work at the national level tend to make more money than those who work at the state or local level. The top 10 percent of news reporters make more than $80,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent make less than $22,000 per year. The best-paid reporters work for television stations and networks, while the lowest-paid reporters work for small newspapers and radio stations.
Local Level
Reporters who work for local news organizations are typically paid hourly. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage for reporters as of 2019 was $18.28. That means that half of reporters earned less than that amount, and half earned more.
Those working at the very lowest end of the pay scale, such as interns or those just starting out in their careers, may earn only minimum wage. Those with the most experience or who work for the largest and most prestigious news organizations can earn significantly more than the median hourly wage. The top 10 percent of reporters earned more than $40.37 per hour as of 2019, according to the BLS.
Bonuses and Incentives
In addition to a salary, news reporters may also receive bonuses. Bonuses are often performance-based, meaning that reporters who produce the most or the best work may receive larger bonuses than those who do not. In some news organizations, reporters may also be eligible for sales commissions if their stories generate a lot of advertising revenue.
Career Outlook
The lowest 10 percent of reporters earned less than $27,370 annually, while the highest 10 percent made more than $92,530 per year. The median annual wage for reporters was $46,990 in May 2012. Although most reporters and correspondents worked full time, about 1 in 4 worked part time in 2012. Hours often vary, and may include early mornings, late nights, weekends, and holidays.
Job growth for reporters is projected to be 9 percent from 2012 to 2022, about as fast as the average for all occupations. As the population grows and demand for news increases, more job openings will occur. Openings also will result from the need to replace workers who retire or leave the occupation each year. Competition is expected to be strong because many people are interested in working as reporters or correspondents; nevertheless, there should be opportunities for those with superior skills and a strong commitment to journalism.
