News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists Salary
In Billings, MT, news analysts, reporters, and journalists earn $47,350 at the median, or about $22.77 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.53), which stretches that salary to about $50,625 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,417/month, about 43.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $47K get you in Billings?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Billings’s Regional Price Parity (93.53). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About news analysts, reporters, and journalists
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What this looks like in Billings
Pay for news analysts, reporters, and journalists in Billings runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $62K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,417/month, which is 44.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.53 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for news analysts, reporters, and journalistss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for news analysts, reporters, and journalists in metros near Billings, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Missoula | $55K | $57K |
| Bozeman | $58K | $56K |
| Boise City | $57K | $58K |
| Rapid City | $45K | $51K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Billings, MT
Entry-level news analysts, reporters, and journalists (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $64K spread from bottom to top.
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $105K | +69% | 1,720 |
| New York | $101K | +62% | 5,750 |
| Georgia | $82K | +32% | 1,520 |
| Nevada | $79K | +26% | 370 |
| Rhode Island | $75K | +20% | 150 |
| Maryland | $64K | +2% | 580 |
| Michigan | $63K | +1% | 960 |
| Tennessee | $62K | +0% | 600 |
| Virginia | $62K | -0% | 1,110 |
| Utah | $62K | -1% | 240 |
| Connecticut | $62K | -1% | 470 |
| Colorado | $61K | -2% | 590 |
| Illinois | $61K | -3% | 1,060 |
| New Jersey | $60K | -4% | 500 |
| Florida | $59K | -6% | 2,490 |
| North Carolina | $59K | -6% | 930 |
| Wisconsin | $58K | -8% | 740 |
| Hawaii | $57K | -9% | 120 |
| Delaware | $56K | -11% | 70 |
| Washington | $55K | -12% | 880 |
| New Mexico | $55K | -12% | 170 |
| Idaho | $51K | -18% | 220 |
| Louisiana | $51K | -18% | 410 |
| Maine | $50K | -19% | 250 |
| Oregon | $49K | -21% | 410 |
| Texas | $48K | -22% | 2,670 |
| New Hampshire | $48K | -22% | 90 |
| Oklahoma | $48K | -22% | 400 |
| Montana | $48K | -23% | 290 |
| South Carolina | $48K | -23% | 480 |
| Ohio | $48K | -23% | 1,340 |
| Indiana | $48K | -23% | 530 |
| Kentucky | $48K | -24% | 370 |
| Vermont | $47K | -24% | 90 |
| Missouri | $47K | -25% | 480 |
| Minnesota | $46K | -25% | 510 |
| Kansas | $46K | -26% | 400 |
| Mississippi | $45K | -27% | 310 |
| Alaska | $44K | -30% | 90 |
| Iowa | $44K | -30% | 590 |
| South Dakota | $44K | -30% | 190 |
| Alabama | $43K | -30% | 530 |
| North Dakota | $43K | -30% | 160 |
| Arizona | $43K | -31% | 450 |
| Nebraska | $40K | -35% | 350 |
| Arkansas | $37K | -40% | 260 |
| Wyoming | $36K | -42% | 80 |
| West Virginia | $35K | -43% | 190 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track news analysts, reporters, and journalists salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a news analysts, reporters, and journalist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Billings?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 44.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,417/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for news analysts, reporters, and journalists in Billings?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new news analysts, reporters, and journalists typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,128/month. At HUD’s $1,417/month FMR, rent would take 67% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is news analysts, reporters, and journalist a high-paying job in Billings?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $47K here vs. $62K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Billings compare to the national average for news analysts, reporters, and journalists?
Billings pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.53), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — below the national median.
How much do news analysts, reporters, and journalists make in Billings, MT?
The median is $47,350 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,470, and experienced news analysts, reporters, and journalists can clear $99,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Billings?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,200/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,417/month, which eats 44.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a news analysts, reporters, and journalists salary go in Billings?
Billings has a Regional Price Parity of 93.53 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median news analysts, reporters, and journalists salary is worth about $50,625 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do news analysts, reporters, and journalists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.