News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists Salary in Washington, DC
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $101,020 a year — 62% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $74,279 take-home, or $6,190 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median news analysts, reporters, and journalists salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,394
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,263
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,465
- District of Columbia income tax$5,618
- Take-home pay$74,279
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,340 | $27.09 | $45,234 | $3,769 |
| 25th percentile | $75,580 | $36.34 | $58,534 | $4,878 |
| Median (50th) | $101,020 | $48.57 | $74,279 | $6,190 |
| 75th percentile | $135,280 | $65.04 | $95,200 | $7,933 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $214,280 | $103.02 | $144,199 | $12,017 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $101,020 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median news analysts, reporters, and journalists's $74,279 take-home pay has the buying power of $68,219 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Washington, DC has 3.0× the national concentration of news analysts, reporters, and journalists jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for news analysts, reporters, and journalists, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #1 of 2 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $101,020 | $74,279 | $68,219 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $101,670 | $75,397 | $66,982 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 2 metros →
About the job: news analysts, reporters, and journalists
Narrate or write news stories, reviews, or commentary for print, broadcast, or other communications media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, or television. May collect and analyze information through interview, investigation, or observation.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -5.9% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a news analysts, reporters, and journalists make in Washington, DC?
The median news analysts, reporters, and journalists salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $101,020 a year, or about $48.57 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $75,580 and $135,280.
What is a news analysts, reporters, and journalists’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $101,020 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $74,279 a year ($6,190 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,618 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a news analysts, reporters, and journalists?
Pay here is 62% above the national median of $62,200. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $68,219 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #1 of 2 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a news analysts, reporters, and journalists afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median news analysts, reporters, and journalists’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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