So I had an intern ask me (in a roundabout way) the dreaded "money question". As in, "how much money am I going to make when I start working for real?" The sad fact of the matter is, you might be better off as an intern.
Here's the deal... every station I have worked at has been rated #50 or below market-wise. These are the markets most broadcasting students will start out in. I will start out by telling you how much you can make in a market like Binghamton, New York -- and then we'll work up from there.
In Binghamton (market size 157), a producer starts out at around $22,000 a year. A reporter may or may not make more than that. Usually the starting salary for a reporter in this market varies from $20,000-$24,000.
Let's move on to Syracuse. Syracuse is market 79. A producer in Syracuse will start out at around $24,000-$28,000. A reporter can start out at as high as $29,000. These are just out of school positions. Frankly, you're not going to get much higher than market number 75 for your first job.
If you decide to go to network first, you'll almost always without fail, start out as a desk assistant. I have had a few friends who started out as desk assistants, and although this number is a few years old I'm accounting for inflation.
If you start out as a desk assistant at one of the major networks in NYC you'll make between $35,000-$40,000 a year.
This is not a scare tactic at all for you folks looking smack dab at your first job. It's the sad truth. The deal is this: There are thousands of eager students just like you looking for jobs. Although you may differentiate yourself from the pack, stations will NOT pay top dollar for your talents.
Job searches (especially for reporters) typically last for four to six months. These are the types of jobs you get after that search is over. You are a dime a dozen at this point in your career.
Here's the upside though: If you're good, you can move up fast. Especially if you're a good producer. Reporters have a little bit more tough sledding than producers do. Even bad producers do okay, because they are in such demand.
So let's look at some larger markets (relatively).
Since I worked in Scranton, I can discuss that market with some knowledge. Scranton is market #53, but it plays a bit smaller. An aging population in a former coal town doesn't make for great money.
Reporter in Scranton (2-3 years experience): $32,000-$39,000
Producer in Scranton (2-3 years experience): $29,000-$38,000
So, you're making a bit more money in Scranton, but not a ton. So let's look at an up and comer like #43 Las Vegas (where I was offered a job a long time ago). By the way, just five years ago Las Vegas was #51 in market size. It is growing RAPIDLY.
Reporter in Las Vegas (3-5 years experience): $41,000-$50,000
Producer in Las Vegas (2-4 years experience): $38,000-$50,000
Remember, it's not until the much larger markets where reporters make substantially more than producers. And typically that isn't even the case anymore.
So, although the money goes up, it isn't until you've made it into Top 20 markets where you will start making a decent living. As a producer, most of you should be looking at moving up the corporate food chain in your third job. Senior Producer, Executive Producer, Assistant News Director, News Director, General Manager. That's basically what you should be striving for throughout your career. Same goes for reporters, but in my time in the industry it seems like producers get more opportunity to move up the ranks, because they are constantly in the newsroom.
As for reporters, you should (unless you really love being on the street reporting -- which many people do) be striving for an anchor position. Anchor's tend to make a good deal more money because they are (for better or worse) the "face" of that particular station.
If you are a junior or senior in college -- let me give you two websites you'll want to look into. One is tvjobs.com the other is newsblues.com NewsBlues is a gossip rag that tells what is going on in the industry. It's fun to read, but it also contains a lot of valuable information. tvjobs.com should become your job bible. It is where you go to find out what jobs are open, and where to send your stuff to get the job.
Also interesting is medialine.com or talentapes.com especially if you're a reporter. A lot of times ND's will peruse these sites, looking for good reporters.
In short, for your first job plan on eating a lot of Ramen noodles, and living in a one bedroom apartment. That't the long & short of broadcast journalism. Hope it helps some of you.
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