Becoming a Broadcast Journalist via Online Education?

At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths. Ashford University, one of the highest ranking online schools, is a US school (accredited) offering journalism courses to train individuals to become top-notch journalists, media journalists, investigative journalists, broadcast journalists, photojournalists, newspaper photojournalists, etc. Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 31,220 people employed as broadcast technicians alone in America, and their average annual salary is $38,330. Radio and television announcers make on average $41,590 per year and there are about 35,130 of them employed today. Colleges and universities like Ashford University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into this field.

Typical Work Locations for a Broadcast Journalist
  • New York
  • Seattle
  • Chicago
  • Detroit
  • Denver
  • Portland
  • Los Angeles
  • Boston
  • San Francisco
  • Orlando
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Broadcast Journalist
  • be in front of the TV camera
  • stay on top of current events
  • dress professionally daily
  • interview and talk to guests
  • be seen by many TV viewers daily
  • travel to different places
  • use writing skills
  • use speaking skills
  • be respected by television community
  • be admired by adolescents who see your face daily
Potential Drawbacks
  • sometimes work extended hours
  • carry heavy equipment
  • work simulataneously with others in the profession
  • work sometimes with unpolite people
  • work in odd environments occasionally
  • always be aware of your speech and language
  • maintain composure even if in an uncomfortable or funny situation
  • travel to many areas
  • work under deadlines
  • buy professional clothing
Related Professions to Consider
  • Radio Positions: Web Administrator And Broadcast
  • Video Journalist
  • Communications Specialist
  • Public Affairs Position
  • Clean Energy Reporter/Editor
  • Meteroligist
  • News Reporter
  • Multi Media Journalist
  • Specialty Multimedia Journalist
  • Weekend Meteorologist
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Broadcast Journalist
  • Why do you want to be a journalist?
  • What qualities do you look for in a boss?
  • What personal qualities do you have that you feel would make you a good journalist?
  • Who is your favorite journalist and why?
  • What do you think of the state of British journalism?
  • What Are The Differences Between Bbc And Itn News Coverage?
  • What books/magazines/newspapers do you read?
  • What are the most important things you have learned from your work experience?
  • How do you follow major news stories?
  • How would you get a local story?
Common Collaborating Professions
  • Journalist
  • Anchorman
  • Anchorwoman
  • Reporter
  • Newscaster
  • Weatherman
  • Meteorologist
  • Television Anchor
  • Scientist
  • Newsman
Broadcast Journalist Training books Broadcast Journalist (More) Popular books Potential Companies to Work For Common College Majors
  • Communications
  • Broadcast news
  • Communication Theory
  • Electronic Media Production
  • broadcasting and cable
  • Mass communication law
  • Media and Society
  • Reporting and news writing
  • Visual Communications
  • Journalism and Speech

Broadcast Journalist Salary Information

Category: Radio and television announcers

Total # Employed in the US 35,130
Average Hourly Wage: $19.99/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$7.73 $9.32 $13.23 $20.33 $36.7
Average Yearly Salary $41,590
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$16,070 $19,390 $27,520 $42,290 $76,340
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
3.8% 21.1% 30.4% 9.9% 28.4% 5.0% 1.4%
Radio and television announcers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
North Dakota $29.09/hr $60,500
Arkansas $26.38/hr $54,860
Missouri $26.36/hr $54,820
Colorado $26.15/hr $54,380
Oklahoma $26.04/hr $54,150
Connecticut $23.58/hr $49,040
New York $22.48/hr $46,750
Hawaii $22.41/hr $46,620
Guam $21.76/hr $45,270
Delaware $21.43/hr $44,580
Mississippi $20.48/hr $42,590
Wyoming $20.16/hr $41,940
Tennessee $19.83/hr $41,240
Washington $19.47/hr $40,490
New Hampshire $18.54/hr $38,560
Nebraska $17.8/hr $37,030
Iowa $17.76/hr $36,940
South Dakota $16.96/hr $35,290
Oregon $16.58/hr $34,490
Michigan $16.21/hr $33,730
Utah $15.87/hr $33,010
Alabama $15.81/hr $32,880
Kentucky $15.3/hr $31,820
District of Columbia $15.2/hr $31,620
New Mexico $15.18/hr $31,570
Alaska $15.15/hr $31,520
Ohio $14.74/hr $30,660
Pennsylvania $14.72/hr $30,620
South Carolina $14.44/hr $30,030
North Carolina $14.42/hr $29,990
Montana $14.35/hr $29,840
Louisiana $13.98/hr $29,070
Puerto Rico $13.54/hr $28,160
West Virginia $13.41/hr $27,890
Maine $13.28/hr $27,620
Massachusetts $13.24/hr $27,540
California $13.18/hr $27,420
Wisconsin $12.96/hr $26,950
New Jersey $11.9/hr $24,760
Nevada $11.75/hr $24,440
Maryland $11.66/hr $24,240
Indiana $11.46/hr $23,850


Category: Broadcast news analysts

Total # Employed in the US 5,820
Average Hourly Wage: $32.69/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$11.92 $15.59 $24.23 $39.02 $66.68
Average Yearly Salary $67,990
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$24,790 $32,430 $50,400 $81,170 $138,690
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.2% 3.2% 9.8% 3.6% 59.8% 21.1% 2.3%
Broadcast news analysts — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Hawaii $52.16/hr $108,500
Connecticut $47.32/hr $98,420
Wisconsin $40.8/hr $84,860
Kansas $38.96/hr $81,030
Wyoming $38.49/hr $80,060
Idaho $37.42/hr $77,840
South Carolina $35.51/hr $73,860
South Dakota $34.39/hr $71,530
Oklahoma $34.08/hr $70,880
North Dakota $34.08/hr $70,900
New York $33.92/hr $70,550
Florida $32.16/hr $66,890
Mississippi $31.61/hr $65,760
Nevada $31.19/hr $64,880
Tennessee $30.96/hr $64,390
Kentucky $30.34/hr $63,100
Alabama $30.03/hr $62,450
Louisiana $29.98/hr $62,350
Massachusetts $28.97/hr $60,260
Arkansas $28.69/hr $59,680
Washington $28.05/hr $58,340
New Jersey $27.62/hr $57,450
New Hampshire $27.07/hr $56,300
Delaware $26.85/hr $55,850
Montana $26.73/hr $55,600
Oregon $26.39/hr $54,900
Utah $26.31/hr $54,730
Nebraska $25.1/hr $52,220
California $23.49/hr $48,870
Iowa $22.09/hr $45,940
New Mexico $21.87/hr $45,500
West Virginia $19.19/hr $39,920
Maryland $16.95/hr $35,250


Category: Reporters and correspondents

Total # Employed in the US 46,130
Average Hourly Wage: $20.8/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$9.45 $12.25 $16.52 $24.62 $35.91
Average Yearly Salary $43,270
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$19,650 $25,480 $34,360 $51,210 $74,700
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.2% 3.2% 9.8% 3.6% 59.8% 21.1% 2.3%
Reporters and correspondents — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Florida $36.03/hr $74,950
Oklahoma $29.03/hr $60,390
North Dakota $27.49/hr $57,180
Guam $26.4/hr $54,920
Virginia $25.6/hr $53,260
Connecticut $23.94/hr $49,800
North Carolina $23/hr $47,830
New York $22.76/hr $47,340
Mississippi $22.26/hr $46,300
Hawaii $22.1/hr $45,960
Missouri $22.09/hr $45,950
Massachusetts $21.93/hr $45,620
Delaware $21.48/hr $44,680
Idaho $21.08/hr $43,840
Colorado $20.79/hr $43,250
Indiana $20.73/hr $43,120
District of Columbia $20.62/hr $42,900
New Hampshire $20.17/hr $41,950
Montana $19.57/hr $40,710
Arkansas $19.3/hr $40,150
Oregon $19.11/hr $39,760
Nebraska $18.78/hr $39,060
Kansas $18.59/hr $38,670
Wyoming $18.47/hr $38,420
Puerto Rico $18.18/hr $37,800
Utah $17.9/hr $37,230
South Dakota $17.73/hr $36,870
Maryland $17.72/hr $36,850
Michigan $17.4/hr $36,180
South Carolina $17.26/hr $35,900
Washington $17.25/hr $35,880
Maine $17.04/hr $35,450
Alaska $16.84/hr $35,020
Kentucky $16.83/hr $35,000
Tennessee $16.71/hr $34,760
Iowa $16.6/hr $34,530
Nevada $15.66/hr $32,580
Alabama $15.58/hr $32,410
Wisconsin $15.31/hr $31,840
Ohio $15.26/hr $31,740
California $14.75/hr $30,690
New Jersey $14.66/hr $30,480
New Mexico $14.48/hr $30,120
Louisiana $13.89/hr $28,890
West Virginia $12.96/hr $26,960
Pennsylvania $12.72/hr $26,450


Journalism Programs by State & City