Salary can be a strong indicator of overall career satisfaction.
After graduation, journalism graduates typically earn high salaries compared to the national average. Top earners make $95,246, while the bottom 20% make closer to $34,261. The median grad salary is $57,125.
Journalism graduate salaries over time
The typical early career salary for someone with a bachelor’s degree in journalism is $40,049, and within five years of graduation, this average salary goes up to $48,012.
This chart maps the average workforce wage by years of experience:
Wage ($USD)
Wage Range Median Wage
Years of work experience
Highest paying jobs for journalism graduates
The highest paying careers for journalism graduates are advertising manager, news anchor, producer and public relations specialist, with top salaries averaging around $94,372.
Highest Paying Careers
Avg Pay (USD)
As per most recent US census
Pro tip
Still unsure if a degree in journalism is your calling? Read our comprehensive guide on choosing a career
