Industry Salaries | JournalismJobs.com

What journalists earn in America

Pay by role, experience, market, and beat, pulled together from BLS data, industry surveys, and self-reported salaries. Updated for 2026.

$60,280Median pay for all reporters, May 2024 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Key numbers

$35–45KEntry level, under 3 years

$58–70KMid-career median, 4–9 years

$96,316Business journalism median (Reynolds Center, 2025)

$128,333Editors and managers median, business journalism

+97%San Jose pay vs. national average

For the fourth consecutive year, business journalists earn at least 30% more than the average journalist in the U.S.Reynolds Center for Business Journalism, 2025 Salary Survey

Salaries by role

Ranges and medians combine BLS, Glassdoor, PayScale, and Reynolds Center data. Pay varies widely by outlet size, market, and beat.

RoleRange ($0 – $190K)MedianTrend

Staff Reporter / Correspondent$38K – $80K

$58,000Stable

Business / Finance Reporter$65K – $130K

$96,316Rising

Data Journalist$70K – $140K

$95,000Rising

Investigative Reporter$60K – $120K

$82,000Rising

Copy Editor$40K – $72K

$54,000Declining

Section / Assignment Editor$55K – $100K

$72,000Stable

Managing Editor$80K – $160K

$110,000Rising

Broadcast Reporter / Anchor$35K – $180K+

$65,000Stable

Podcast Producer$55K – $115K

$78,000Rising

Multimedia / Video Journalist$42K – $90K

$62,000Rising

Photojournalist$35K – $80K

$52,000Declining

Freelance Writer / Reporter$25K – $85K

$45,000Variable

Content Strategist (Editorial)$65K – $130K

$88,000Rising

Audience / SEO Editor$55K – $105K

$76,000Rising

Reported rangeMedian

Salaries by experience

Intern / Student

$15–20/hr

Entry (<1 yr)

$35,580

Early career (1–4 yrs)

$46,823

Mid-career (4–9 yrs)

$58–70K

Senior (10–20 yrs)

$72,870

20+ years

$77,350

Senior editor / director

$128,333

Sources: PayScale 2026, Jobted (BLS-backed), Glassdoor December 2025

Advancement takes timeMoving out of junior pay bands usually takes several years of consistent bylines, an editor who advocates for you, and expertise on a specific beat.

Education premiumGlassdoor reports that four or more years of experience plus a graduate degree can speed salary growth. Editors increasingly cite clips over credentials when hiring.

Salaries by market

Location is one of the strongest predictors of pay. Major metros and tech-adjacent markets pay the most.

Market	Avg. annual salary	vs. national avg.	Notes
San Jose / Silicon Valley, CA	$116,773	+97%	Tech and business reporting hub
New York City, NY	$88–110K	+50–85%	National media headquarters
Washington, D.C.	$80–105K	+35–77%	Policy, politics, and government
Los Angeles, CA	$72–95K	+22–60%	Entertainment and multimedia
Boston, MA	$65–88K	+10–48%	Education, health, and science
Chicago, IL	$58–82K	−2% to +38%	Broad editorial market
Denver / Boulder, CO	$55–75K	−7% to +27%	Growing digital-first presence
Midwest (non-Chicago)	$42–62K	−29% to +5%	Regional and local outlets
Southeast / Sun Belt	$40–65K	−32% to +10%	Growing markets, lower cost basis
Rural / small markets	$32–48K	−46% to −19%	Local news and community papers

Industry trends

Beats that pay a premium

Technology

+30–40%

Finance / Business

+30%+

Data / Investigative

+20–35%

Health / Science

+15–25%

Politics / Policy

+10–20%

General / Lifestyle

Baseline

Takeaways for 2026

Multimedia fluency paysReporters who shoot, edit video, and produce audio earn more than print-only peers. Podcast producers at national outlets can top six figures.

Data skills carry the biggest premiumReporting combined with coding, SQL, and data visualization is in high demand, especially at investigative and policy outlets.

The local news gap is wideningNational and metro outlets have held or grown salaries, while small newsrooms pay entry-level staff $32–42K.

Content roles pay wellB2B content strategy and thought leadership for tech and finance clients pays $1–2 per word or $65–130K a year, a strong path for experienced reporters.

Salary research resources

Check your role, market, and experience level against these sources before you negotiate.

Government and research data

Employer-reported databases

Union contracts

Freelance rates

Methodology and disclaimer: Figures are compiled from public sources including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS (May 2024), the Reynolds Center for Business Journalism 2025 Salary Survey, Glassdoor (December 2025), PayScale (2026), Salary.com, and Comparably. Ranges reflect the breadth of reported data, not a single methodology. Pay varies by outlet type, ownership, market, beat, and negotiation. This page is updated periodically; verify with current primary sources before making compensation decisions. JournalismJobs.com does not guarantee the accuracy of third-party data.