How Much Do News Anchors Make - Average Salary Information

How much do news anchors make? Working as a news anchor might lead to intriguing broadcasting career options. As a news anchor, your pay might vary greatly based on your region and amount of expertise.

What do news anchors do?

From TV studios, news anchors offer live news. They read news off a teleprompter that contains their own tales as well as introductions to pre-recorded films and live news broadcasts from reporters. News anchors may also interview individuals in the studio or present other specialist anchors for targeted news pieces.

News anchors conduct research on current events and interview individuals in order to generate stories.

What the work environment is like for a TV news anchor

News anchors usually work in television studios, where they provide live coverage of current and local events. They may work in offices before beginning to broadcast, reviewing notes and practicing scripts.

The majority of news anchors work full-time and frequently host one or more television news shows each day. They may work early in the mornings, during the day, at night, or on weekends. Some television news anchors may be on call to remark on breaking news as it occurs.

Advancement opportunities for a news anchor

Successful TV anchors may be able to pursue a wide range of advanced roles after obtaining expertise in the broadcast news industry. Those who begin their careers in tiny communities frequently aspire to work for larger television stations in major cities or even national networks.

How much does a news anchor make?

In the United States, news anchors earn a national average of $38,647 a year. News anchor salaries typically start at $14,000 per year and rise to $95,000 per year. Or somewhere between $24 to $39 in hourly pay.

Two of the most important elements that influence news anchors' earning potential are their amount of experience level and their location.

Top-level news anchor (highest salary):

$200,180 per year.

Senior-level news anchor:

$111,610 per year.

Mid-level news anchor:

$66,880 per year.

Junior-level news anchor:

$37,970 per year.

Entry-level news anchor:

$27,370 per year.

News anchor salaries by state

How much does a news anchor ear? Here's the average news anchor salary by state:

• Alabama: $36,139 per year
• Alaska: $38,871 per year
• Arizona: $37,743 per year
• Arkansas: $35,698 per year
• California: $51,001 per year
• Colorado: $38,661 per year
• Connecticut: $39,789 per year
• Delaware: $37,562 per year
• District of Columbia: $50,226 per year
• Florida: $11.48 per hour
• Georgia: $30.22 per hour
• Hawaii: $37,210 per year
• Idaho: $9.25 per hour
• Illinois: $33,988 per year
• Indiana: $48,165 per year
• Iowa: $28,387 per year
• Kansas: $29,665 per year
• Kentucky: $35,418 per year
• Louisiana: $36,281 per year
• Maine: $36,076 per year
• Maryland: $39,880 per year
• Massachusetts: $41,153 per year
• Michigan: $37,206 per year
• Minnesota: $26,306 per year
• Mississippi: $25,434 per year
• Missouri: $37,583 per year
• Montana: $34,565 per year
• Nebraska: $27,764 per year
• Nevada: $28,272 per year
• New Hampshire: $36,923 per year
• New Jersey: $40,013 per year
• New Mexico: $36,429 per year
• New York: $43,216 per year
• North Carolina: $37,451 per year
• North Dakota: $37,017 per year
• Ohio: $37,124 per year
• Oklahoma: $35,690 per year
• Oregon: $38,366 per year
• Pennsylvania: $38,163 per year
• Rhode Island: $37,597 per year
• South Carolina: $36,328 per year
• South Dakota: $35,400 per year
• Tennessee: $36,624 per year
• Texas: $39,807 per year
• Utah: $35,925 per year
• Vermont: $36,336 per year
• Virginia: $39,250 per year
• Washington: $40,282 per year
• West Virginia: $34,818 per year
• Wisconsin: $37,096 per year
• Wyoming: $37,951 per year

How to become a new anchor

Here's how to become a news anchor or news reporter.

Earn a bachelor's degree

First, earn a bachelor's degree in language, journalism, or communications to establish a solid foundation. Choose one of the most common majors for a job as a news anchor to prepare for it:

Communications degree

Due to coursework on communication and technology, mass media, rhetoric and the public domain, public speaking, argumentation, and advocacy, this major may provide you with a wide foundation in media and global culture.

Journalism degree

This program will teach you how to tell compelling, fact-based tales while adhering to a set of ethical guidelines. Multimedia storytelling, field reporting, investigative reporting, videography, and building news apps are common assignments.

English degree

This degree may successfully teach you the fundamentals of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. You may expect to take coursework in literature, creative writing, philosophy, and interdisciplinary topics like contemporary thinking and political science if you major in English.

Political science degree

You may establish a strong foundation in political science, history, and international affairs with this major. The government, politics, and media in the United States, as well as foreign relations and current issues such as climate change and food politics, are all included in most courses.

Get relevant work experience

Get some experience working in the news sector before you start looking for news anchor employment. The following are some of the most common entry-level occupations for news anchors:

• Getting involved with a campus television or radio station as a volunteer
• Working as an intern at a local news station
• Working for a news station as a field reporter or correspondent

Start your resume

Create a resume/CV that highlights your skills, abilities and expertise once you've met the fundamental criteria for working as a news anchor. Discuss your internships and job experience, as well as your college degree and applicable curriculum.

Get important skills

You should take every chance to enhance your abilities as a news presenter if you want to be successful. To talk eloquently and successfully about news stories, for example, you'll need strong communication skills. To build relationships with viewers, other anchors, and interviewees, you'll also need excellent interpersonal skills.

Look for job opportunities

You may be ready for a new professional challenge after accumulating five or more years of experience as a news presenter.

Since many news anchor jobs are limited, and the job market is selective, using job alerts from the top job search websites can be useful.

Related job titles

Another job title that could be pursued rather than news anchor. Other job titles include:

• News Reporter.
• News Producer.
• Reporter.
• Broadcast Journalist.
• Sports Analyst.

Favorite Resources

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Job interview resources

• Common Interview Questions by Marquette University
• Prepare for Behavioral Interview Questions by Marquette University
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• Mock Interview Handbook by CSUCI
• Interview Guidebook by Lebanon Valley College

Resume and cover letter resources

• Writing a Resume and Cover Letter by USC
• Resume Writing Tips by the University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Resume and Cover Letter Guide by Harvard University

Job search resources

• Building and Engaging Your Network by UC Berkeley
• Career Ready Assessment by UC Berkeley

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