How Much Money Do Most Newscasters Make?

by Aurelio Locsin, Demand Media

Newscasters are also called broadcast news analysts because they inform the public about events through broadcast media, such as television and radio. They spend time indoors, writing stories and reading them in front of cameras and microphones. But they also earn their salaries by going out in the field to investigate stories and report on them from remote locations.

Broadcasts News Analysts

Broadcast news analysts earned an average $76,370 per year, or $36.71 per hour, as of May 2011, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, the lowest-earning made less than $28,190 annually, or $13.55 hourly, while the highest-paid received more than $159,530, or $76.70. Although they may research stories on location first-hand, they spend most of their time in the studio, reading scripts about news events that either they prepared or were submitted by writers. In larger stations, they may specialize in such subjects as sports, foreign news or weather.


Reporters in television and radio broadcasting earned a mean $51,410 per year, or $24.72 per hour. Those specifically working in television earned higher means of $53,410, or $25.68. Those in radio broadcasting received lower averages of $43,650, or $20.99 per hour. Although they can read news reports in front of studio cameras, they spend most of their time in the field with a broadcast crew researching stories and investigating leads. They often report from remote locations so they can visually show to the audience an event as it happens, or interview a newsmaker for opinions.


In 2011, most broadcast news analysts worked in radio and television broadcasting, which represented 4,150 of the total 5,200 positions. It paid average wages of $79,560, or $38.25 per hour. Second for employment were other information services, such as Web broadcasters, which hired 370 professionals and paid a mean $46,150, or $22.19. Third for opportunities was cable and other subscription programming, with 250 jobs and average salaries at $89,840, or $43.19. The employers with the best pay were advertising, public relations and related services, averaging $90,840, or $43.68 per hour. Cable and other subscription programming ranked second for compensation, and radio and television broadcasting ranked third.


The state with the most jobs for broadcast news analysts was California, with 560 of the positions at average salaries of $89,620 per year, or $43.09 per hour. New York was next for opportunities, with 500 positions, and mean wages of $89,670, or $43.11. Virginia ranked third for jobs, with 280 newscasters averaging $82,270, or $39.55. The top-paying state for the occupation was Florida at a mean $126,260, or $60.70, followed by Massachusetts at a mean $117,870, or $56.67, and Colorado, averaging $94,060, or $45.22.

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