Becoming a 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 43,390 people employed as writers and authors alone in America, and their average annual salary is $64,560. Producers and directors make on average $86,870 per year and there are about 79,780 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 Journalist
  • newspaper agency
  • news channel
  • magazine
  • publication
  • printing press
  • literature department
  • political office
  • film production house
  • radio station
  • photography department
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Journalist
  • meet a lot of interesting people
  • learn about interesting subjects
  • incredibly fun and exhilarating
  • learn about new technology and gadgets
  • rewarding
  • traveling
  • good pay
  • meet famous people
  • work from home
  • work on internet
Potential Drawbacks
  • it takes alot of effort to obtain breaking news
  • possibility of brodcasting false news
  • large number of competitors
  • maintaining the news standard
  • threat from anti social elements
  • time management
  • combining different types of news
  • travel often
  • physical strain
  • uncertain circumstances
Related Professions to Consider
  • Arts Journalist
  • Business Journalist
  • Advocacy Journalist
  • Sports Journalist
  • Weather Forecaster
  • Technical Journalist
  • The Civic Journalist
  • Medical Journalist
  • Political Journalist
  • Fashion Journalist
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Journalist
  • Why do you want to be a journalist?
  • What personal qualities do you have that you feel would make you a good journalist?
  • Can you describe yourself in two minutes?
  • What do you think of the state of British journalism?
  • What Are The Differences Between Bbc And Itn News Coverage?
  • What are the most important things you have learnt from your work experience?
  • Can you work under pressure?
  • How do you follow major news stories?
  • How much salary expetations you have?
  • Do you want to add anything before ending?
Common Collaborating Professions
  • photographer
  • public affairs
  • graphic design
  • mass communications specialist
  • reporter
  • news anchor
  • journalism professor
  • printer
  • typesetter
  • editor
Journalist Training books Journalist (More) Popular books Potential Companies to Work For Common College Majors
  • Broadcast New writing
  • Copyediting and Design
  • History of American Media
  • Magazine Writing
  • Mass Communications and Society
  • Media Law and Ethics
  • Reporting
  • Communication - New Media
  • Communication - Public Relations
  • Communication - Culture and Communication

Journalist Salary Information

Category: Producers and directors

Total # Employed in the US 79,780
Average Hourly Wage: $41.77/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$14.69 $20.62 $32.08 $53.49 $0.0
Average Yearly Salary $86,870
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$30,560 $42,890 $66,720 $111,250 $0
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.8% 6.7% 15.4% 6.9% 54.8% 12.7% 2.8%
Producers and directors — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Colorado $57.95/hr $120,530
Oklahoma $54.95/hr $114,290
Florida $42.11/hr $87,580
Delaware $38.32/hr $79,710
Tennessee $37.71/hr $78,430
Idaho $37.27/hr $77,530
Virginia $34.85/hr $72,490
Montana $34.2/hr $71,140
Nebraska $33.55/hr $69,790
Missouri $33.45/hr $69,580
New York $33.31/hr $69,290
Mississippi $32.58/hr $67,760
North Dakota $32.52/hr $67,650
Kansas $32.4/hr $67,390
Utah $30.6/hr $63,650
Hawaii $30.02/hr $62,440
Wyoming $29.86/hr $62,110
Connecticut $29.83/hr $62,050
Guam $29.55/hr $61,460
New Hampshire $28.21/hr $58,680
South Carolina $28.14/hr $58,530
Indiana $27.93/hr $58,090
Wisconsin $27.78/hr $57,770
Washington $27.59/hr $57,390
Maine $27.41/hr $57,010
Oregon $26.83/hr $55,820
Alabama $26.5/hr $55,120
Ohio $26.27/hr $54,650
North Carolina $25.8/hr $53,660
District of Columbia $24.86/hr $51,700
Alaska $24.61/hr $51,200
Puerto Rico $24.52/hr $51,000
Louisiana $24.47/hr $50,900
Kentucky $22.84/hr $47,510
Michigan $22.47/hr $46,730
Arkansas $22.2/hr $46,180
South Dakota $21.68/hr $45,100
Massachusetts $21.62/hr $44,970
West Virginia $21.38/hr $44,470
New Mexico $20.55/hr $42,750
New Jersey $20.29/hr $42,200
Nevada $20.25/hr $42,120
California $19.78/hr $41,150
Iowa $19.71/hr $41,000
Maryland $18.93/hr $39,370
Pennsylvania $18.77/hr $39,030


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


Category: Editors

Total # Employed in the US 105,040
Average Hourly Wage: $28.1/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$13.67 $17.95 $24.42 $34.18 $46.81
Average Yearly Salary $58,440
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$28,430 $37,340 $50,800 $71,090 $97,360
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.7% 3.9% 10.9% 4.0% 55.6% 20.3% 4.6%
Editors — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Oklahoma $37.05/hr $77,060
Virginia $33.34/hr $69,340
Florida $32.61/hr $67,830
Hawaii $31.23/hr $64,960
Delaware $30.36/hr $63,140
Missouri $29.63/hr $61,640
District of Columbia $29.59/hr $61,540
North Dakota $29.24/hr $60,830
Colorado $29.2/hr $60,740
Idaho $28.37/hr $59,020
Connecticut $27.16/hr $56,490
North Carolina $27.1/hr $56,360
Mississippi $27.02/hr $56,190
Kansas $26.17/hr $54,430
New York $25.46/hr $52,950
Oregon $25.4/hr $52,830
Utah $25.37/hr $52,780
Alaska $25.01/hr $52,020
Michigan $24.93/hr $51,860
Ohio $24.48/hr $50,920
Wyoming $24.16/hr $50,250
Guam $24.07/hr $50,060
Indiana $24.05/hr $50,020
Arkansas $24.04/hr $50,010
New Hampshire $23.55/hr $48,990
Tennessee $23.5/hr $48,880
Nebraska $23.43/hr $48,730
Kentucky $22.89/hr $47,610
Montana $22.88/hr $47,590
Louisiana $22.8/hr $47,420
Washington $22.33/hr $46,450
West Virginia $22.29/hr $46,360
South Carolina $21.98/hr $45,710
Maryland $21.21/hr $44,120
Wisconsin $20.94/hr $43,560
Puerto Rico $20.89/hr $43,450
Alabama $20.75/hr $43,160
California $20.27/hr $42,160
Massachusetts $20.12/hr $41,850
Maine $19.9/hr $41,390
New Jersey $19.49/hr $40,530
New Mexico $19.1/hr $39,720
Pennsylvania $18.79/hr $39,070
Iowa $18.2/hr $37,850
Nevada $18.14/hr $37,730
South Dakota $17.26/hr $35,900


Category: Technical writers

Total # Employed in the US 46,270
Average Hourly Wage: $31.55/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$17.82 $22.94 $30.16 $38.7 $48.09
Average Yearly Salary $65,610
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$37,070 $47,710 $62,730 $80,490 $100,020
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.8% 4.9% 14.1% 6.1% 48.9% 18.8% 6.4%
Technical writers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Missouri $38.41/hr $79,900
Colorado $38.4/hr $79,880
North Carolina $35.65/hr $74,150
Florida $34.76/hr $72,310
North Dakota $33.35/hr $69,360
Ohio $33.12/hr $68,890
Idaho $33.06/hr $68,760
Oklahoma $32.77/hr $68,160
Mississippi $32.69/hr $68,000
Connecticut $32/hr $66,570
Oregon $31.3/hr $65,100
Tennessee $30.86/hr $64,180
Nebraska $30.53/hr $63,510
Kansas $30.53/hr $63,500
Arkansas $29.94/hr $62,270
Alaska $29.84/hr $62,070
Utah $29.61/hr $61,580
Virginia $29.41/hr $61,180
Kentucky $29.12/hr $60,580
Wyoming $28.78/hr $59,860
District of Columbia $28.34/hr $58,940
Delaware $28.32/hr $58,910
Wisconsin $28.19/hr $58,640
Montana $27.86/hr $57,950
Louisiana $26.8/hr $55,750
Washington $26.73/hr $55,600
South Carolina $26.47/hr $55,050
Hawaii $26.36/hr $54,840
New Hampshire $26.36/hr $54,830
Iowa $25.84/hr $53,740
Maryland $25.65/hr $53,350
New York $25.63/hr $53,300
Guam $25.54/hr $53,120
Alabama $25.35/hr $52,730
Massachusetts $24.48/hr $50,920
New Mexico $24.09/hr $50,100
Maine $24.08/hr $50,090
Puerto Rico $23.45/hr $48,770
Michigan $23.36/hr $48,580
California $22.79/hr $47,410
Pennsylvania $21.49/hr $44,690
South Dakota $21.48/hr $44,680
Nevada $21.26/hr $44,220
West Virginia $21.16/hr $44,010
New Jersey $18.66/hr $38,800
Indiana $17.42/hr $36,220


Category: Writers and authors

Total # Employed in the US 43,390
Average Hourly Wage: $31.04/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$13.5 $18.63 $25.91 $36.41 $50.82
Average Yearly Salary $64,560
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$28,070 $38,760 $53,900 $75,740 $105,710
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.6% 3.4% 9.6% 3.2% 47.9% 26.2% 9.0%
Writers and authors — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Colorado $42.11/hr $87,600
Oklahoma $40.48/hr $84,200
Florida $37.42/hr $77,820
Alaska $33.59/hr $69,860
Delaware $33.38/hr $69,440
Connecticut $31.52/hr $65,570
Mississippi $31.37/hr $65,260
Virginia $31.3/hr $65,110
Arkansas $30.29/hr $63,000
Kansas $30.28/hr $62,990
New York $30.19/hr $62,790
Missouri $30.14/hr $62,690
North Dakota $29.57/hr $61,500
Nebraska $27.56/hr $57,320
District of Columbia $27.31/hr $56,810
Wyoming $26.9/hr $55,960
Indiana $26.37/hr $54,850
Ohio $25.89/hr $53,860
New Mexico $25.69/hr $53,440
New Hampshire $25.69/hr $53,430
Idaho $25.68/hr $53,420
Utah $25.57/hr $53,190
Oregon $25.31/hr $52,650
North Carolina $25.09/hr $52,180
Michigan $24.81/hr $51,610
South Carolina $24.7/hr $51,380
Tennessee $24.23/hr $50,400
Nevada $23.01/hr $47,860
Washington $22.98/hr $47,800
Montana $22.83/hr $47,480
Hawaii $22.69/hr $47,190
California $22.5/hr $46,800
Alabama $22.46/hr $46,710
Maine $21.93/hr $45,610
Puerto Rico $21.16/hr $44,010
Louisiana $20.69/hr $43,040
New Jersey $20.55/hr $42,740
Wisconsin $19.82/hr $41,220
Massachusetts $19.53/hr $40,620
South Dakota $19.32/hr $40,180
Kentucky $19.29/hr $40,120
Maryland $19.23/hr $39,990
West Virginia $18.63/hr $38,750
Iowa $18.18/hr $37,820
Pennsylvania $15.65/hr $32,560


Category: Camera operators, television, video, and motion picture

Total # Employed in the US 17,540
Average Hourly Wage: $23.84/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$10.05 $13.89 $20.64 $29.47 $39.71
Average Yearly Salary $49,590
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$20,910 $28,890 $42,940 $61,300 $82,600
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
2.9% 9.3% 24.5% 7.7% 48.7% 6.4% 0.5%
Camera operators, television, video, and motion picture — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Tennessee $35.52/hr $73,890
Ohio $31.49/hr $65,510
Florida $30.34/hr $63,100
Colorado $30.27/hr $62,960
Arkansas $26.5/hr $55,110
Kentucky $26.16/hr $54,420
Mississippi $26.14/hr $54,370
North Dakota $25.81/hr $53,690
Guam $24.74/hr $51,450
Montana $24.64/hr $51,240
Connecticut $23.45/hr $48,780
Idaho $22.76/hr $47,340
South Carolina $22.46/hr $46,710
Maine $22.27/hr $46,330
Indiana $22.2/hr $46,170
Nebraska $22.09/hr $45,950
New York $21.79/hr $45,310
Oklahoma $21.56/hr $44,840
District of Columbia $21.11/hr $43,900
Maryland $20.67/hr $42,980
Washington $20.15/hr $41,920
Virginia $19.92/hr $41,430
Alabama $19.49/hr $40,530
New Hampshire $19.48/hr $40,520
Utah $19.29/hr $40,120
Wisconsin $18.91/hr $39,340
Kansas $18.84/hr $39,180
New Mexico $18.4/hr $38,270
Oregon $17.33/hr $36,050
Hawaii $16.85/hr $35,060
Wyoming $16.76/hr $34,860
Louisiana $16.75/hr $34,850
Puerto Rico $16.44/hr $34,190
Nevada $15.59/hr $32,430
South Dakota $14.79/hr $30,760
Michigan $14.34/hr $29,840
Massachusetts $14.27/hr $29,670
West Virginia $12.94/hr $26,910
Pennsylvania $11.67/hr $24,270


Journalism Programs by State & City