How much does a journalist make?
a year · about $30 an hour
A typical journalist in the United States makes $62,200 a year, about $30 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
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.
Did you know? Some multimedia journalists report, write, film, edit, and gather sound or graphics for one story—doing several jobs at once!
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $36,240 and $144,140How do you become one?
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.
School needed: Usually a bachelor's degree
Good for people who like creating and figuring things out
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.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in District of Columbia ($105,390), lowest in Alabama ($43,440).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
In Japan, a writer averages $44,877. Journalist salary in Japan
Data table and sources
| 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 |
Official definition: 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.
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