News anchors and reporters play slightly different roles in journalism, and reporters usually earn less than anchors. Read on to learn more about the factors that result in different salaries for these professionals.
Career and Salary Overview
News anchors deliver news stories through live television broadcasts, videotaped news, radio, and another medium. On the other hand, news reporters cover news stories by gathering information about an event, interviewing people and reviewing sources of information to put together a news story for print, radio, television or the web. News anchors generally bring home bigger paychecks by the salaries of both these positions depend on upon the size of the market in which you're employed, the amount of education you've completed and the employer for whom you work.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutReportersCorrespondentsAndBroadcastNewsAnalysts">Important Facts About Reporters, Correspondents, and Broadcast News Analysts</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td> Job Outlook (2021-2031) </td><td> -9% decline (<i>for news analysts, reporters, and journalists</i>)</td></tr>
<tr><td> Entry-level Education </td><td> Bachelor's degree in journalism or communication</td></tr>
<tr><td> Key Skills </td><td> Objectivity, communication, interpersonal</td></tr>
<tr><td> Work Environment </td><td> A lot of field time, on location or in the studio, sometimes dangerous locations</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---NewsAnchors">News Anchors</h3><p>According to <i>PayScale.com,</i> news anchors earned a median salary of $63,793 a year in February 2023. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the mean annual salary of news analysts, reporters, and journalists was $63,230 in May 2021 (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). The bottom ten percent earned $29,210 or less annually, while the top ten percent made $120,590 or more a year.
</p><h3 id="section---NewsReporters">News Reporters</h3><p>The salaries of news reporters are lower than those of news anchors and vary widely. In February 2023, <i>PayScale.com</i> reported that news reporters earned a median wage of $48,401 a year. According to the BLS, news reporters are also categorized into a group with news analysts. The same salary statistics were indicated.
</p><h3 id="section---SalaryByIndustry">Salary by Industry</h3><p>In May 2021, the BLS reported that news analysts, reporters, and journalists working in the telecommunication industry averaged $95,160 per year, it's also recorded as the highest salary of all industries. In May 2021, the BLS reported that radio and television broadcasting employed the most reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts and offered them an average wage of $68,480. On the other hand, newspaper, periodical, book, and directory publishers had the second-highest employment level and offered these professionals an average wage of $49,470.
</p><h3 id="section---SalaryByLocation">Salary by Location</h3><p>According to the BLS, the top-paying states for news analysts, reporters, and journalists in May 2021 were the District of Columbia, New York, Connecticut, Georgia, and New Jersey. The annual mean salaries for these states were $111,360, $95,510, $82,080, $77,610, and $71,110, respectively.
</p><h3 id="section---OtherSalaryFactors">Other Salary Factors</h3><p>To ensure the highest salary possible as a news anchor or reporter, you may consider pursuing an undergraduate degree and possibly a graduate degree in journalism, English, communications or a related field. Experience is also important. This includes internships at news stations or jobs at school-run news stations.
</p><p>News anchors and news reporters earn higher salaries by working for large national news markets, which are usually in major cities and metropolitan areas. Entry-level news reporters usually start out in a small market that may not pay as much but may serve as a stepping stone for advancement. With experience and the right presentation skills, a news reporter may become a news anchor. After gaining experience as an anchor, you may pursue higher pay in major markets.</p>
