News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
Also called: Anchor, Anchorman, Art Critic, Basketball Commentator, Blogger, Book Critic, Book Reviewer, Breaking News Reporter
Narrate or write news stories, reviews, or commentary for print, broadcast, or other communications media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, or television.
What news analysts, reporters, and journalists do
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Review and evaluate notes taken about news events to isolate pertinent facts and details.
- Receive assignments or evaluate leads or tips to develop story ideas.
- Check reference materials, such as books, news files, or public records, to obtain relevant facts.
- Determine a published or broadcasted story's emphasis, length, and format, organizing material accordingly.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists salary
The median annual wage for news analysts, reporters, and journalists is $62,200 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $36,240 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $144,140. The mean annual wage is $102,460.
The mean hourly wage of $49.00 is 6.8× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $62,200 → in 3 years $66,100 → in 5 years $68,800 → in 10 years $76,000 (10-year range $65,400–$88,200). The model assumes pay growth of +2.0% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists United States | 雑誌記者 Japan | 新聞記者 Japan | 放送記者 Japan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $62,200 | ¥6.73M ≈ $42,808 | ¥6.73M ≈ $42,808 | ¥6.73M ≈ $42,808 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $76,000 | ¥6.58M | ¥6.70M | ¥6.95M |
| Outlook score | 35 | 28 | 28 | 31 |
| AI replacement risk | 66% High | 74% High | 68% High | 56% Moderate |
| Workers | 39K | — | — | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 4 — considerable preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★☆☆☆ Fairly easy (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become news analysts, reporters, and journalists
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as news analysts, reporters, and journalists
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.