News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists Salary
In Missouri, news analysts, reporters, and journalists earn $46,920 at the median, or about $22.56 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $82K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $52,737 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,097/month, about 34.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $47K get you in Missouri?
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What this looks like in Missouri
Pay for news analysts, reporters, and journalists in Missouri runs about 25% below the U.S. median of $62K. Rent runs $1,097/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Missouri
Entry-level news analysts, reporters, and journalists (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $82K or more, a $53K spread from bottom to top.
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists salary by metro in Missouri
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $50K | +6% | 160 |
| Kansas City | $48K | +3% | 290 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a news analysts, reporters, and journalist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 34.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/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 Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new news analysts, reporters, and journalists typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,773/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 62% 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 Missouri?
Local pay runs 25% below the national median — $47K here vs. $62K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for news analysts, reporters, and journalists?
Missouri pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — below the national median.
How much do news analysts, reporters, and journalists make in Missouri?
The median is $46,920 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,550, and experienced news analysts, reporters, and journalists can clear $82,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,192/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 34.4% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $52,737 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.