The National Average Salary for a Newspaper Reporter With an Associate's Degree

In journalism these days, you usually need a bachelor's degree just to get in the game.

Browse the want ads for reporter jobs on sites like Editor & Publisher and Journalismjobs.com, and it's quickly revealed that the vast majority of newspapers that are hiring these days (and there aren't many), require previous experience. Those who are hiring entry-level people typically require a bachelor's degree, though once in awhile there are ads that vaguely ask for "a college degree." That might open the door for newcomers who have an associate's or two-year degree.

Reporters Off the Radar

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not have figures for newspaper reporters who only have associate's degrees. According to that agency, "most employers prefer individuals with a bachelor's degree in journalism or mass communications, but some hire graduates with other majors. They look for experience at school newspapers or broadcasting stations, and internships with news organizations. Large-city newspapers and stations also may prefer candidates with a degree in a subject-matter specialty such as economics, political science, or business. Some large newspapers and broadcasters may hire only experienced reporters." Those with an associate's degree may be able to write for small community weeklies or obtain news clerk or obituary clerk positions at dailies and become reporters or copy editors after they finish a bachelor's degree program.
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Associate's Earnings

According to jobweb.com, the average starting salary for those who have earned an associate's degree in liberal arts and sciences, general studies or humanities is $22,443. For business management, marketing and related support services, the average starting salary is $25,340.

Range of Reporter Salaries

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, annual pay for reporters varies. The median annual salary for newspaper reporters in 2008 was $33,430, and yet pay for the middle 50 percent ranged between $25,760 and $52,160. The bottom 10 percent earned less than $20,180, with pay for the highest 10 percent exceeding $77,480.

Varies by Employer Size

According to Payscale, newspaper reporter salaries also vary by size of the company, with employers that have nine or fewer workers paying between $19,653 per year and $26,353 (2010 figures). Papers of that size are typically small community weeklies or pennysavers, and are more likely to hire someone with an associate's degree than a larger paper. Papers that employ between 200 and 599 people pay reporters between $30,180 and $50,096 per year, and papers that have 600-1,999 workers pay reporters between $34,811 and $70,000. Payscale also reported that the median salary range for those who have a bachelor of arts in journalism is $22,385 to $45,987.

Newspaper Guild Salaries

The Newspaper Guild union publishes its reporter salaries: New York Times reporters with two years of experience make $1,777 a week. Reporters at the Peoria Journal Star with five years experience get $1,083 weekly. And staff writers at the Lexington Herald-Leader Daily who have five years experience get $685 per week.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: News analysts, reporters, and correspondents
• jobweb: Starting salary expectations
• Payscale:Salary survey for job: Reporter, newspaper