How Much Does a News Anchor Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$62,200
News anchors in the U.S. earn a median of $62,200 a year, or $29.91 an hour. Half of news anchors earn more than $62,200 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $144,140.
Pay percentiles for news anchors
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $17.42 | $36,240 |
| 25th | $21.81 | $45,370 |
| 50th (median) | $29.91 | $62,200 |
| 75th | $47.33 | $98,450 |
| 90th | $69.30 | $144,140 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists (SOC 27-3023). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for news anchors
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $105,390 | $50.67 | +69% |
| New York | $100,770 | $48.45 | +62% |
| Georgia | $81,910 | $39.38 | +32% |
| Nevada | $78,550 | $37.76 | +26% |
| Rhode Island | $74,570 | $35.85 | +20% |
| Maryland | $63,680 | $30.61 | +2% |
| Michigan | $62,760 | $30.17 | +1% |
| Tennessee | $62,390 | $29.99 | 0% |
| Virginia | $62,140 | $29.87 | 0% |
| Utah | $61,880 | $29.75 | −1% |
| United States | $62,200 | $29.91 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many news anchors are there?
BLS counts about 39,250 news anchors employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists”. The most jobs are in New York (5,750), California (4,140) and Texas (2,670).
The mean (average) annual wage is $102,460, higher than the median of $62,200.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $5,183
- Biweekly
- $2,392
- Weekly
- $1,196
- Daily (8 hours)
- $239
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do news anchors make an hour?
The median hourly wage for news anchors is $29.91. The middle 50% earn between $21.81 and $47.33 an hour.
Which state pays news anchors the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for news anchors at $105,390, +69% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for news anchors?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of news anchors earn less than $36,240 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.