News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists Salary
In Colorado, news analysts, reporters, and journalists earn $60,770 at the median, or about $29.21 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $58,596 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,832/month, about 45% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $61K actually covers in Colorado, month by month
About news analysts, reporters, and journalists
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What this looks like in Colorado
News analysts, reporters, and journalists pay in Colorado tracks closely to the national median, $61K locally vs. $62K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,832/month, which is 45.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level news analysts, reporters, and journalists (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $63K spread from bottom to top.
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists salary by metro in Colorado
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $74K | +22% | 340 |
| Colorado Springs | $61K | -0% | 70 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a news analysts, reporters, and journalist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 45.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new news analysts, reporters, and journalists typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,502/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 73% 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 Colorado?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $61K locally vs. $62K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for news analysts, reporters, and journalists?
Colorado pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — below the national median.
How much do news analysts, reporters, and journalists make in Colorado?
The median is $60,770 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,850, and experienced news analysts, reporters, and journalists can clear $99,700. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,016/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,832/month, which eats 45.6% 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 Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 103.71 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median news analysts, reporters, and journalists salary is worth about $58,596 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.