How to Become a Journalist / Reporter
Report and tell the stories that keep the public informed, across print, broadcast, and digital newsrooms. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $62,200 per year and declining projected job growth.
Median pay
$62,200/yr
Middle half
$45,370 to $98,450
Job growth
Declining
Openings / yr
4,100
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Reporting
- Interviewing
- Writing
- Fact-Checking
- Deadline Management
Helpful certifications
- Newsroom internships and a published portfolio
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
59/100
Stress level
61/100
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a Journalist / Reporter make?
The median pay for a Journalist / Reporter is $62,200 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $45,370 and $98,450 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Journalist / Reporter?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Journalism, Communications, English, and Political Science.
Is Journalist / Reporter a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is declining (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 4,100 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Journalist / Reporter use most?
Common skills for this role are Reporting, Interviewing, Writing, Fact-Checking, and Deadline Management.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).