Editor
Median wage · national
$77,920
Range: $57K – $106K
Employed
92K
Openings/yr
10K
Typically: bachelor's degree
HUMANITIES
News Reporter
News Reporter earn $62,200 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $45,370 and $98,450. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About News Reporter
Narrate or write news stories, reviews, or commentary for print, broadcast, or other communications media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, or television. May collect and analyze information through interview, investigation, or observation.
- Median Wage
- $62,200
- Employed Nationally
- 39K
- Openings / Year
- 4,100
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
Anchor
Anchorman
Art Critic
Basketball Commentator
Blogger
How Much Do News Reporters Make?
News Reporter earn $62,200 nationally, near the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $45,370 and $98,450. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$62,200
National Median (Annual)
Near the national median for college graduates.
$45K–$98K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$45,370
Entry-level
$62,200
Median
$98,450
Experienced
The mean wage for this occupation is $102,460, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.
What Do News Reporters Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for News Reporter roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- Write commentaries, columns, or scripts, using computers.
- Coordinate and serve as an anchor on news broadcast programs.
- Examine news items of local, national, and international significance to determine topics to address, or obtain assignments from editorial staff members.
- Analyze and interpret news and information received from various sources to broadcast the information.
- Receive assignments or evaluate leads or tips to develop story ideas.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Speaking
Reading Comprehension
Writing
Active Listening
Time Management
Who Thrives Here
A
Artistic
Creative and original thinking matters in this field, where fresh approaches, design sensibility, or expressive work drives real outcomes.
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
E
Enterprising
Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.
Where Do News Reporters Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Outdoor / Field
Significant time outdoors or in the field. Conditions vary by weather.
Physical Demands
Sedentary
Mostly desk-based. Limited walking or standing required.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for News Reporters?
The BLS projects -3.9% employment change for News Reporter through 2034, a declining trend, below the national average of +5%. About 4,100 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↘ -3.9%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
Declining employment projected.
4,100
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
39K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most News Reporter professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $62,200 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 5,220 | $103,810 | +66.9% |
| 2 | California | 4,530 | $84,830 | +36.4% |
| 3 | Florida | 3,180 | $57,720 | -7.2% |
| 4 | Texas | 2,460 | $60,320 | -3.0% |
| 5 | District of Columbia | 2,060 | $103,350 | +66.2% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most News Reporter positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The 5 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Communication & Media | 56,620 | $56,359 | 1,406 |
| 2 | Public Relations | 20,666 | $63,560 | 608 |
| 3 | Radio, Television & Digital Media | 18,257 | $50,497 | 641 |
| 4 | Journalism | 12,280 | $56,278 | 522 |
| 5 | Agricultural Public | 866 | $54,152 | 46 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring News Reporters
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 2 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 3 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| 4 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
| 5 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 6 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | 92 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up News Reporter, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to News Reporter pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
News Reporter Pros & Cons
News Reporter has real financial strengths, but declining employment projections deserve careful consideration. The 1 upsides and 4 concerns below are all data-sourced.
PROS
- Competitive salary $62,200 median wage puts this career near or above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
CONS
- Declining employment The BLS projects -3.9% employment change through 2034. This field is expected to shrink. Automation, offshoring, or structural industry change are likely factors.
- High earnings variance The gap between the 25th ($45,370) and 75th ($98,450) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, location, and specialization.
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $62,200 median while building the experience employers require.
- Entry-level pay well below the national median The 25th percentile wage of $45,370 is considerably below the $62,200 median. Early-career workers typically spend 5 or more years building toward typical pay. Factor this into any program ROI calculation.
News Reporter Frequently Asked Questions
How much do News Reporter professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for News Reporter is $62,200, near the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $45,370 and $98,450. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is News Reporter a good career?
With realistic expectations. The BLS projects -3.9% employment change through 2034. This field is shrinking, not expanding. The $62,200 median wage is competitive, but most openings come from retirements and exits rather than new positions. If you're drawn to this work, differentiate through a specialized niche or adjacent certification that keeps you relevant as the broader field contracts.
How long does it take to become a News Reporter?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Communication & Media are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $62,200 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
Why are News Reporter jobs declining?
The BLS projects -3.9% employment change for News Reporter through 2034. Declining occupations typically face some combination of automation, industry consolidation, offshoring, or reduced consumer demand, rarely a single cause. Despite the overall decline, about 4,100 openings per year are still projected, mostly replacements for workers who retire or leave, not new positions. 39K people currently work in this field, so while it's contracting, active hiring still occurs. Specialization in high-value segments of the role gives the strongest protection.
Why do News Reporter salaries vary so widely?
The $53,080 gap between the 25th ($45,370) and 75th ($98,450) percentile reflects how much employer type, industry, specialization, and geography affect pay. Entry-level roles and lower-demand markets cluster near the bottom; senior, specialized, or high-cost-metro positions push the top. In fields with this much spread, where you work and what you specialize in often matters more than years of experience.
What skills do News Reporter professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for News Reporter roles: Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Writing, Active Listening, and Time Management. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
Related Findings
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- Median wage
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Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 95 of 385 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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