News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists fall under the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media category in the U.S. occupational classification. News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists earn a median salary of $60,280 per year, ranking in the top 48% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -3.9% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do news analysts, reporters, and journalists earn?

The median annual wage for news analysts, reporters, and journalists is $60,280. That puts news analysts, reporters, and journalists at #389 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is news analysts, reporters, and journalists a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for news analysts, reporters, and journalists is -3.9%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 49K positions in 2024 to 47K in 2034, a net change of -2K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do news analysts, reporters, and journalists do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working news analysts, reporters, and journalists, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Write commentaries, columns, or scripts, using computers.
2. 2.Present news stories, and introduce in-depth videotaped segments or live transmissions from on-the-scene reporters.
3. 3.Establish and maintain relationships with individuals who are credible sources of information.
4. 4.Revise work to meet editorial approval or to fit time or space requirements.
5. 5.Investigate breaking news developments, such as disasters, crimes, or human-interest stories.
6. 6.Present live or recorded commentary via broadcast media.
7. 7.Develop ideas or material for columns or commentaries by analyzing and interpreting news, current issues, or personal experiences.
8. 8.Communicate with readers, viewers, advertisers, or the general public via mail, email, or telephone.

Top skills for news analysts, reporters, and journalists

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become news analysts, reporters, and journalist?

The standard path into news analysts, reporters, and journalists begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

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Common questions parents ask about news analysts, reporters, and journalists