How much does a journalist make?
Answer: A typical journalist in the United States makes $62,200 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 39,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Journalist pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $36,240 | $62,200 | $144,140 | about 39,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $105,390 | about 2,000 |
| New York | $100,770 | about 6,000 |
| Georgia | $81,910 | about 2,000 |
| Maryland | $63,680 | about 580 |
| Michigan | $62,760 | about 960 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay differs with experience and skill, location, and the kind of employer or media outlet. Specialized beats and night, weekend, or breaking-news shifts can also affect pay, but journalists do not need a government license.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a journalist do?
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.
What's a typical day like?
A journalist checks tips and public records, calls experts, and interviews people at an event or on location. Then they verify facts, write or record the story, edit it with colleagues, and update it as news changes.
How to get this job
In the U.S., most journalists earn a bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or a related subject such as English. Experience on a college newspaper, radio or TV station, or through an internship helps; journalists do not need a government license.
Usually a bachelor's degree (preparation level 4 of 5)
Good for people who like creating and figuring things out.
Did you know?
Some multimedia journalists report, write, film, edit, and gather sound or graphics for one story—doing several jobs at once!
What about Japan?
Nearly the same jobThe US figure is the median and the Japan figure is the average, so it's not a perfect comparison. Prices differ too.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/OOH/media-and-communication/reporters-correspondents-and-broadcast-n
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/27-3023.00
- www.findlaw.com/civic-engagement/citizen-journalism.html
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY