When it comes to news anchor salaries, there is the past and the future, the old and new. Traditionally, news anchors earned a salary from a media channel that was based on their experience, education, and expertise. This salary was routinely reviewed and altered.
Nowadays, it isn’t easy to break into the industry because news anchor roles are declining, especially in traditional media formats. It means that news anchor tend to earn higher wages. That said, new opportunities are opening up in new media with a range of salaries available.
The job of a news anchor
The salary of a news anchor largely depends on the size of the audience they serve and the duties of the role. We’re all familiar with the most recognizable news anchors in your country, but news anchors can also be regional and serve smaller markets and audiences.
Typically, a news anchor not only presents the news, but they are also responsible for sourcing the news, writing it up, and undertaking interviews. In short, news anchors are much more than mere news presenters; they are also journalists who gather and create the news copy.
Education requirements
In general, you will need a bachelor’s degree to enter the field of newscasting. This is usually the minimum acceptable level of education needed to land a job in the industry and begin to gain experience. That said, some people with niche interests my already qualify.
If you have a background in business or politics, for instance, you might be a suitable candidate for newscasting. Of course, there will be skills to learn, such as researching and presenting, but a background in a target area can offer you a strong foundation. This might also affect salary.
Industry requirements
Traditionally a new anchor was employed by a television or radio channel, but digital media has opened things up, and now news anchors can be found presenting podcasts or running online news networks. So, naturally, the salaries differ according to your job role.
Job roles for news anchors vary widely within the industry; working at an established media company might draw a salary, but many digital news anchors are freelance correspondents who are paid independently. So, new anchor salaries vary significantly, especially in the new media.
Experience requirements
News anchors have a bearing on how successful a channel is, and their salaries are often tied to their success in the role. If a news anchor is presentable, both in appearance and tone of voice, they are likely to align with company values and audience expectations influencing salary.
If a news anchor is popular with their audience and enhances the ratings of the channel, they tend to draw larger salaries and have more room for negotiation when it comes to salary reviews. In contrast, news anchors with lower ratings might remain on a standard salary.
Annual salary expectations
So what are the salary expectations for an average newscaster? Again, this depends on the country, the experience of the individual, and the job role, but in general, someone might expect to draw a salary of between $26,351 - $82,910 for 0-10 years of service as a news anchor.
Going beyond the 0-10 years, a news anchor can expect their salary to rise to between $34,731 - $120,429, potentially landing them in one of the higher tax brackets for 2024. The annual salary will largely depend on the channel, agency, education, and experience. For over 20 years, the salary expectation is between $42,525 - $196,127.
News anchor trends
In the coming years, traditional news anchor roles are expected to decline. This is in line with trends towards more online news consumption, meaning that news anchors in 2026 in traditional roles are likely to have experience and expertise since job availability will be lower.
That said, there should be more opportunities for news anchors to open up. Digital media platforms and online news outlets are becoming more common and more popular. These media platforms also require presenters, good news for those with newscasting skills.
Conclusion
The industry of newscasting is changing, as are most industries in light of innovations in digital media; therefore, salaries are also changing. Traditionally, a news anchor will get paid by a television or radio channel depending on their experience and expertise, upwards of $25,000.
News anchor with some popularity and industry experience can command salaries between $20,000-$80,000, but this is expected to decline in the coming years as digital media platforms have an effect. Instead, future news anchors might find their livelihood working freelance in new media.