News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
SOC code 27-3023 · O*NET-SOC 27-3023.00 · Considerable preparation needed
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$62,200
a year
Hourly
$29.91
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$102,460
$49.26 per hour
Middle 50%
$45,370 – $98,450
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$36,240 – $144,140
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
39,250
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $36,240
- $17.42/hr
- 25th percentile
- $45,370
- $21.81/hr
- Median percentile
- $62,200
- $29.91/hr
- 75th percentile
- $98,450
- $47.33/hr
- 90th percentile
- $144,140
- $69.30/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
-4%
Declining
49,300
jobs in 2024
47,400
projected for 2034
About 1,900 fewer jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What do news analysts, reporters, and journalists 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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Report news stories for publication or broadcast, describing the background and details of events.
- Gather information and develop perspectives about news subjects through research, interviews, observation, and experience.
- Research a story's background information to provide complete and accurate information.
- Arrange interviews with people who can provide information about a story.
- Establish and maintain relationships with individuals who are credible sources of information.
- Investigate breaking news developments, such as disasters, crimes, or human-interest stories.
- Select material most pertinent to presentation, and organize this material into appropriate formats.
- Report on specialized fields such as medicine, green technology, environmental issues, science, politics, sports, arts, consumer affairs, business, religion, crime, or education.
How to qualify for this work
Preparation level: zone 4 — Considerable preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a news analysts, reporters, and journalists earn?
The national median is $62,200 a year. The full range runs from $36,240 at the 10th percentile to $144,140 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a news analysts, reporters, and journalists without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 4, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is news analysts, reporters, and journalists in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to shrink by about 4% between 2024 and 2034 — declining. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening4.5/5
- Reading Comprehension4.4/5
- Speaking4.3/5
- Critical Thinking4.1/5
- Writing4.0/5
- Active Learning3.8/5
Knowledge areas
- English Language4.8/5
- Communications and Media4.7/5
- Computers and Electronics3.6/5
- Telecommunications3.1/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.1/5
- Law and Government2.7/5
- Geography2.5/5
Transferable strengths: Social Perceptiveness, Time Management, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving.