How much does a journalist make in the United States?
This is the median gross salary: half earn more and half earn less. That is $6,101 a month.
- Approx. take-home per month
- $5,004
- Compared with the median pay in the United States
- 1.4 times
- Data from
- 2025
Where the United States ranks among 144 countries
Each line is a country, on a log scale from $100 to $200,000 a year.
In other countries
Median gross salary a year, in dollars.
| 1. Switzerland estimate | $100,000 |
| 2. Luxembourg estimate | $82,110 |
| 3. United States | $73,210 |
| 4. Iceland estimate | $71,550 |
| 144. Nigeria estimate | $359 |
Similar jobs
Professionals
- Medical writer$82,630
- Translator$70,930
- Lawyer$159,700
- Judge$139,400
- Legal professionals not elsewhere classified$75,530
- Museum curator$63,870
- Librarian$68,270
- Economist$124,700
By state
Median gross salary a year.
| New York | $101,300 |
| California | $98,030 |
| District of Columbia | $91,260 |
| Massachusetts | $83,170 |
| Georgia | $78,970 |
| Connecticut | $78,430 |
| Nevada | $78,100 |
| New Jersey | $77,510 |
| Rhode Island | $76,920 |
| Virginia | $75,240 |
See all 51 states
| Colorado | $73,700 |
| Illinois | $73,140 |
| Maryland | $72,720 |
| Washington | $70,430 |
| Delaware | $69,360 |
| North Carolina | $68,730 |
| Florida | $67,920 |
| Oregon | $65,510 |
| Utah | $64,130 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,460 |
| Michigan | $62,970 |
| Wisconsin | $62,050 |
| Ohio | $61,800 |
| New Hampshire | $61,730 |
| Vermont | $61,440 |
| Tennessee | $60,410 |
| New Mexico | $60,150 |
| Minnesota | $59,330 |
| Missouri | $56,430 |
| Arizona | $56,010 |
| Hawaii | $55,980 |
| South Carolina | $55,110 |
| Kansas | $54,790 |
| Louisiana | $54,370 |
| Kentucky | $54,310 |
| Montana | $53,590 |
| Alabama | $53,390 |
| Indiana | $53,000 |
| North Dakota | $52,920 |
| Iowa | $51,790 |
| Alaska | $51,740 |
| Idaho | $51,190 |
| Maine | $50,140 |
| Mississippi | $49,660 |
| Oklahoma | $49,640 |
| South Dakota | $49,120 |
| West Virginia | $47,620 |
| Texas | $46,690 |
| Arkansas | $43,820 |
| Nebraska | $43,410 |
| Wyoming | $42,220 |
Jobs in this group in the United States
Official name of each one and its median salary a year.
| Editor | $77,920 |
| News Analyst | $62,200 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a journalist make a month in the United States?
The median gross salary is $6,101 a month, $73,210 a year.
How much does a journalist make starting out and with experience?
The lowest-paid 10%, usually people starting out, make around $39,750 a year; the top 10%, with experience or senior roles, make more than $150,800.
Which country pays a journalist the most?
United States, with a median of $73,210 a year before tax, according to our data.
Which state pays a journalist the most?
New York, with a median of $101,300 a year.
Does a journalist make more in the United States or in Germany?
In the United States: $73,210 a year against $69,290 in Germany, 1.1 times more.
Who makes more, a journalist or a medical writer?
A medical writer: $82,630 a year against $73,210 for a journalist, 1.1 times more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS survey, 2025. How we calculate