News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists Salary
In Idaho, news analysts, reporters, and journalists earn $51,190 at the median, or about $24.61 an hour. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $85K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.88), which stretches that salary to about $54,527 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,136/month, about 33.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Idaho. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $51K get you in Idaho?
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What this looks like in Idaho
Pay for news analysts, reporters, and journalists in Idaho runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $62K. Rent runs $1,136/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.88 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Idaho
Entry-level news analysts, reporters, and journalists (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $85K or more, a $53K spread from bottom to top.
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists salary by metro in Idaho
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City | $57K | +11% | 80 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Idaho numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a news analysts, reporters, and journalist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Idaho?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 33% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,136/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 Idaho?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new news analysts, reporters, and journalists typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,951/month. At HUD’s $1,136/month FMR, rent would take 58% 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 Idaho?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $51K here vs. $62K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Idaho compare to the national average for news analysts, reporters, and journalists?
Idaho pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — below the national median.
How much do news analysts, reporters, and journalists make in Idaho?
The median is $51,190 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,520, and experienced news analysts, reporters, and journalists can clear $85,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Idaho?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,439/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,136/month, which eats 33% 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 Idaho?
Idaho has a Regional Price Parity of 93.88 (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 $54,527 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.