News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists (SOC 27-3023) earn a median $62,200 a year ($29.91 an hour) in the United States, with 39,250 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What news analysts, reporters, and journalists do
News analysts, reporters, and journalists narrate or write news stories, reviews, or commentary for print, broadcast, or other media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, or television, and may gather and analyze information through interviews, investigation, or observation. They receive assignments or evaluate leads and tips to develop story ideas, examine news items of local, national, and international significance to decide what to cover, research a story's background to provide complete and accurate information, and arrange interviews with people who can supply information. They analyze and interpret news and information from various sources, write commentaries, columns, or scripts on computers, and some coordinate and serve as an anchor on news broadcast programs. Alternate titles include breaking news reporter, book critic, blogger, and basketball commentator. Editors, who direct and revise written material, and public relations specialists, who promote organizations, are counted in separate occupations.
Also called: Anchor, Anchorman, Art Critic, Basketball Commentator, Blogger.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $17.42 | $21.81 | $29.91 | $47.33 | $69.30 | $49.26 | 39,250 |
| Annual | $36,240 | $45,370 | $62,200 | $98,450 | $144,140 | $102,460 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where news analysts, reporters, and journalists earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $31.06 | $39.21 | $50.67 | $77.08 | $106.75 | $83.83 | 1,720 | 2.45 | 9.72 |
| Annual | $64,600 | $81,550 | $105,390 | $160,330 | $222,040 | $174,360 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $23.80 | $37.43 | $48.45 | $77.89 | $157.52 | $120.73 | 5,750 | 0.59 | 2.35 |
| Annual | $49,500 | $77,860 | $100,770 | $162,020 | $327,640 | $251,110 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $18.41 | $22.45 | $39.38 | $48.35 | $77.42 | $41.93 | 1,520 | 0.31 | 1.23 |
| Annual | $38,280 | $46,700 | $81,910 | $100,560 | $161,040 | $87,210 | ||||
| Nevada | Hourly | $22.11 | $26.70 | $37.76 | $48.07 | $60.65 | $40.17 | 370 | 0.24 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $46,000 | $55,530 | $78,550 | $99,990 | $126,150 | $83,550 | ||||
| Rhode Island | Hourly | $20.73 | $23.29 | $35.85 | $36.61 | $47.00 | $34.39 | 150 | 0.30 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $43,110 | $48,440 | $74,570 | $76,150 | $97,770 | $71,530 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $23.80 | $37.43 | $48.45 | $77.89 | $157.52 | $120.73 | 5,750 | 0.59 | 2.35 |
| Annual | $49,500 | $77,860 | $100,770 | $162,020 | $327,640 | $251,110 | ||||
| California | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 4,140 | 0.23 | 0.90 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $13.94 | $20.12 | $23.31 | $33.95 | $46.07 | $30.48 | 2,670 | 0.19 | 0.75 |
| Annual | $28,990 | $41,850 | $48,470 | $70,610 | $95,830 | $63,390 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $18.93 | $23.41 | $28.24 | $40.20 | $58.92 | $34.90 | 2,490 | 0.25 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $39,380 | $48,690 | $58,730 | $83,620 | $122,560 | $72,580 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $31.06 | $39.21 | $50.67 | $77.08 | $106.75 | $83.83 | 1,720 | 2.45 | 9.72 |
| Annual | $64,600 | $81,550 | $105,390 | $160,330 | $222,040 | $174,360 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $28.54 | $38.80 | $48.88 | $80.82 | $229.01 | $126.56 | 5,360 | 0.56 | 2.24 |
| Annual | $59,360 | $80,700 | $101,670 | $168,100 | $476,330 | $263,250 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $27.09 | $36.34 | $48.57 | $65.04 | $103.02 | $72.74 | 2,390 | 0.76 | 3.02 |
| Annual | $56,340 | $75,580 | $101,020 | $135,280 | $214,280 | $151,310 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $18.79 | $27.35 | $40.89 | $50.51 | $77.62 | $45.90 | 1,090 | 0.38 | 1.49 |
| Annual | $39,080 | $56,890 | $85,040 | $105,060 | $161,450 | $95,470 | ||||
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | Hourly | $24.00 | $30.19 | $39.25 | $48.07 | $62.50 | $42.43 | 300 | 0.26 | 1.03 |
| Annual | $49,930 | $62,800 | $81,640 | $99,990 | $129,990 | $88,260 | ||||
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | Hourly | $19.99 | $28.71 | $38.46 | $48.45 | $58.73 | $41.73 | 220 | 0.21 | 0.82 |
| Annual | $41,570 | $59,710 | $80,000 | $100,780 | $122,160 | $86,800 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $28.54 | $38.80 | $48.88 | $80.82 | $229.01 | $126.56 | 5,360 | 0.56 | 2.24 |
| Annual | $59,360 | $80,700 | $101,670 | $168,100 | $476,330 | $263,250 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $27.09 | $36.34 | $48.57 | $65.04 | $103.02 | $72.74 | 2,390 | 0.76 | 3.02 |
| Annual | $56,340 | $75,580 | $101,020 | $135,280 | $214,280 | $151,310 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,690 | 0.27 | 1.07 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $18.79 | $27.35 | $40.89 | $50.51 | $77.62 | $45.90 | 1,090 | 0.38 | 1.49 |
| Annual | $39,080 | $56,890 | $85,040 | $105,060 | $161,450 | $95,470 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,050 | 0.44 | 1.75 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
Top industries employing news analysts, reporters, and journalists
Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers employ 40.7% of news analysts, reporters, and journalists nationally (15,990 jobs) at a median $53,310 a year ($25.63 an hour), followed by Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (26.5%) and Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (24.8%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers NAICS 513100 | 15,990 | 40.7% | $53,310 | $25.63 |
| Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations NAICS 516100 | 10,390 | 26.5% | $62,790 | $30.19 |
| Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers NAICS 516200 | 9,730 | 24.8% | $80,180 | $38.55 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries NAICS 512100 | 730 | 1.9% | * | * |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services NAICS 541500 | 330 | 0.8% | * | * |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (39,250). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $48,370 for news analysts, reporters, and journalists in May 2021 and $62,200 in May 2025, with employment of 39,080 and 39,250.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $48,370 | $23.26 | 39,080 |
| May 2022 | $55,960 | $26.90 | 44,530 |
| May 2023 | $57,500 | $27.64 | 45,020 |
| May 2024 | $60,280 | $28.98 | 41,550 |
| May 2025 | $62,200 | $29.91 | 39,250 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $50.67 | $105,390 | $64,600 | $222,040 | 1,720 | 2.45 | 9.72 |
| 2 | New York profile | $48.45 | $100,770 | $49,500 | $327,640 | 5,750 | 0.59 | 2.35 |
| 3 | Georgia profile | $39.38 | $81,910 | $38,280 | $161,040 | 1,520 | 0.31 | 1.23 |
| 4 | Nevada profile | $37.76 | $78,550 | $46,000 | $126,150 | 370 | 0.24 | 0.96 |
| 5 | Rhode Island profile | $35.85 | $74,570 | $43,110 | $97,770 | 150 | 0.30 | 1.17 |
| 6 | Maryland profile | $30.61 | $63,680 | $40,880 | $125,710 | 580 | 0.21 | 0.83 |
| 7 | Michigan profile | $30.17 | $62,760 | $35,400 | $144,750 | 960 | 0.22 | 0.86 |
| 8 | Tennessee profile | $29.99 | $62,390 | $27,620 | $130,540 | 600 | 0.18 | 0.73 |
| 9 | Virginia profile | $29.87 | $62,140 | $39,270 | $134,080 | 1,110 | 0.27 | 1.07 |
| 10 | Utah profile | $29.75 | $61,880 | $39,360 | $129,720 | 240 | 0.14 | 0.54 |
| 11 | Connecticut profile | $29.62 | $61,620 | $45,000 | $210,770 | 470 | 0.28 | 1.09 |
| 12 | Colorado profile | $29.21 | $60,770 | $36,850 | $99,700 | 590 | 0.20 | 0.81 |
| 13 | Illinois profile | $29.13 | $60,590 | $36,680 | $140,620 | 1,060 | 0.17 | 0.69 |
| 14 | New Jersey profile | $28.76 | $59,830 | $34,770 | $106,320 | 500 | 0.12 | 0.46 |
| 15 | Florida profile | $28.24 | $58,730 | $39,380 | $122,560 | 2,490 | 0.25 | 0.99 |
| 16 | North Carolina profile | $28.21 | $58,670 | $32,280 | $101,970 | 930 | 0.19 | 0.74 |
| 17 | Wisconsin profile | $27.66 | $57,530 | $37,170 | $97,380 | 740 | 0.25 | 1.00 |
| 18 | Hawaii profile | $27.27 | $56,730 | $30,630 | $146,930 | 120 | 0.20 | 0.77 |
| 19 | Delaware profile | $26.73 | $55,600 | $36,560 | $145,070 | 70 | 0.14 | 0.56 |
| 20 | Washington profile | $26.33 | $54,760 | $39,160 | $125,750 | 880 | 0.25 | 0.98 |
| 21 | New Mexico profile | $26.26 | $54,610 | $36,800 | $118,910 | 170 | 0.20 | 0.78 |
| 22 | Idaho profile | $24.61 | $51,190 | $32,520 | $85,040 | 220 | 0.26 | 1.03 |
| 23 | Louisiana profile | $24.40 | $50,750 | $38,810 | $101,120 | 410 | 0.21 | 0.83 |
| 24 | Maine profile | $24.08 | $50,090 | $35,900 | $75,650 | 250 | 0.40 | 1.57 |
| 25 | Oregon profile | $23.65 | $49,200 | $32,280 | $88,260 | 410 | 0.21 | 0.83 |
| 26 | Texas profile | $23.31 | $48,470 | $28,990 | $95,830 | 2,670 | 0.19 | 0.75 |
| 27 | New Hampshire profile | $23.29 | $48,450 | $33,170 | $103,300 | 90 | 0.13 | 0.53 |
| 28 | Oklahoma profile | $23.18 | $48,210 | $29,260 | $93,360 | 400 | 0.23 | 0.92 |
| 29 | Montana profile | $23.06 | $47,960 | $34,120 | $73,320 | 290 | 0.57 | 2.24 |
| 30 | South Carolina profile | $23.05 | $47,940 | $37,070 | $109,330 | 480 | 0.21 | 0.83 |
| 31 | Ohio profile | $23.02 | $47,880 | $34,310 | $82,320 | 1,340 | 0.24 | 0.96 |
| 32 | Indiana profile | $22.89 | $47,610 | $31,970 | $100,780 | 530 | 0.17 | 0.66 |
| 33 | Kentucky profile | $22.85 | $47,530 | $29,320 | $103,670 | 370 | 0.18 | 0.73 |
| 34 | Vermont profile | $22.58 | $46,970 | $37,800 | $103,900 | 90 | 0.28 | 1.11 |
| 35 | Missouri profile | $22.56 | $46,920 | $29,550 | $82,220 | 480 | 0.17 | 0.65 |
| 36 | Minnesota profile | $22.35 | $46,490 | $33,890 | $65,510 | 510 | 0.17 | 0.69 |
| 37 | Kansas profile | $22.05 | $45,870 | $31,200 | $136,810 | 400 | 0.28 | 1.10 |
| 38 | Mississippi profile | $21.75 | $45,240 | $29,930 | $63,560 | 310 | 0.27 | 1.07 |
| 39 | Alaska profile | $21.07 | $43,820 | $38,310 | $78,680 | 90 | 0.26 | 1.04 |
| 40 | Iowa profile | $20.93 | $43,540 | $33,160 | $82,950 | 590 | 0.38 | 1.49 |
| 41 | South Dakota profile | $20.92 | $43,520 | $32,610 | $50,940 | 190 | 0.41 | 1.63 |
| 42 | Alabama profile | $20.88 | $43,440 | $31,540 | $88,610 | 530 | 0.25 | 0.99 |
| 43 | North Dakota profile | $20.88 | $43,420 | $39,000 | $82,090 | 160 | 0.37 | 1.46 |
| 44 | Arizona profile | $20.72 | $43,100 | $31,630 | $86,820 | 450 | 0.14 | 0.55 |
| 45 | Nebraska profile | $19.44 | $40,420 | $35,930 | $78,360 | 350 | 0.34 | 1.34 |
| 46 | Arkansas profile | $18.00 | $37,450 | $29,430 | $65,490 | 260 | 0.20 | 0.77 |
| 47 | Wyoming profile | $17.33 | $36,040 | $21,520 | $55,760 | 80 | 0.29 | 1.14 |
| 48 | West Virginia profile | $16.96 | $35,280 | $23,260 | $71,280 | 190 | 0.27 | 1.07 |
| – | California profile | * | * | * | * | 4,140 | 0.23 | 0.90 |
| – | Massachusetts profile | * | * | * | * | 810 | 0.22 | 0.88 |
| – | Pennsylvania profile | * | * | * | * | 1,160 | 0.19 | 0.76 |
Part of Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 27-3023 News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists.
*- Wage estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked. A withheld or top-coded median in that table shows the marker explained above.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 27-3023, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 27-3023.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.