Salary of a Journalist: Per Month, Starting Salary, Highest Salary

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Ahana Bhaduri

Senior Content Specialist

With the increase in the number of media platforms, there has been a significant urge to dispose of daily news and routine updates. There are various mediums through which Journalists share their daily dose of updates, which include news channels, social media, radio, and television. The field of Journalism comes with its own pros and cons. In today's scenario, Journalists prefer specializing in the field of their interests like law, finance, technology, war, politics, sports, etc.

Journalism is one of the highest-paying careers globally, where the average starting salary ranges from INR 1.80 L - 2.20 LPA. However with gradual experience and knowledge, one can earn as much as INR 27 LPA. There are several factors that will determine the salary of a Journalist such as communication skills, years of experience, level of education, etc. Read More: Certificate Journalism Courses

In order to become a Journalist, the aspiring candidate must complete class 12th and then pursue Undergraduate or Postgraduate Courses in Journalism and Mass Communication. There are various certification courses for Journalism. The candidate can decide how they want to pursue Journalism as a career. Candidates have many options such as news anchors, editors, reporters, photojournalists, etc. 

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Average Salary of a Journalist

The average salary of a journalist ranges from INR 3.06 LPA - 5 LPA. While Journalists with substantial years of experience of around 5 - 7 years, earn an average salary between INR 6 LPA - 8.50 LPA. However, news anchors, critics, and editors are the highest-paid journalists with an average salary of INR 10.20 LPA. The highest salary of a Journalist in India can range from INR 3 Crores – 4 Crores annually. Journalists like Ravish Kumar, and Rajdeep Sardesai earn an average salary of INR 3 crores - 5 crores annually.

Salary of a Journalist: Specialization Wise

The salary of a Journalist depends mainly on the specialization pursued by them. In a media house, Journalists can work under various departments or beats such as Sports, Politics, Crime, and Page 3.

Tabulated below is the average salary of a Journalist on the basis of their specialization.

Specializations Average Annual Salary (INR)
Print Journalist 3.87 L
Investigative Journalist 5.60 L
Broadcast Journalist 5.20 L
Political Journalist 6.80 L
Crime Journalist 7 L
Sports Journalist 6.07 L
Lifestyle Journalist 5.70 L
Photojournalist 3.20 L

Check: Experience Wise Salary of a Journalist

Salary of a Journalist: Designation Wise

The average salary of a Journalist based on their designation is provided below in the following table:

Designations Average Annual Salary (INR)
Sub Editors 4.60 L
News Editors 7.90 L
Visual Production Specialist 6.20 L
Assignment Editor 4.18 L
Managing Director 10. 20 L
Editor in Chief 17.30 L

Salary of a Journalist: Qualification Wise

The average salary of a Journalist on the basis of their qualification is provided in the following table: 

Qualifications Average Annual Salary (INR)
Certificate Courses 3.26 L
Diploma Courses 4.78 L
Undergraduate Courses 7.89 L
Postgraduate Courses 9.50 L

Also Check: Gender Wise Salary of a Journalist

Salary of a Journalist: Organization Wise

The average salary of the Journalist across different media houses in the country is tabulated below for your reference,

Name of the Company Average Annual Salary (INR)
Dainik Bhaskar Group 13.50 L
Times of India 15 L
Dainik Jagran 11.50 L
HT Media 16 L
Zee News 18.80 L
India Today Group 17 L
ABP Limited 20 L

Salary of a Journalist: City Wise Salary

Tabulated below is the average salary of a Journalist across various cities for your reference,

Name of the Cities Average Annual Salary
Chennai 9.70 L
Mumbai 19 L
Bengaluru 15 L
Delhi 20.50 L
Noida 6.80 L
Pune 7.20 L
Kolkata 10 L

Best Journalists in India

Some of the top Journalists in India, who has by time gained significant recognition through immense hard work and dedication along with their salaries

Top Journalists Average Annual Salary (INR)
Ravish Kumar 4 Crore
Nidhi Razdan 3 Crore
Arnab Goswami 12 Crore
Barkha Dutt 2.64 Crore
Pranoy Roy 7.8 Crore
Rajdeep Sardesai 5 Crore

What Does a Journalist do

The main job of journalists is to bring the events happening around the world to the public. They research, write, and print new stories and bring them to the knowledge of the public through newspapers, news channels, magazines, social media, etc. 

Some of the key responsibilities of a Journalist are listed below for your reference,

  • Assemble findings for their story
  • Collecting and verifying the information
  • Write and deliver news stories to their respective audiences
  • Reporting and interpreting information
  • Maintaining the accuracy of the work

Skills Required to become a Journalist

Tabulated below are the key skills that are required to become a Journalist,

Language proficiency Attention to detail Persistence
Good communication skills Good research skills Ethics and Integrity
Writing skills Interpersonal skills courage

Salary of a Journalist: FAQs

Ques. How many types of journalists are there? 

Ans. Journalism is not only about news and reporting but there are sub-fields in journalism:

  • News anchors
  • Editor
  • Photojournalists
  • News reporter
  • Writers
  • Social media manager
  • Editor-in-chief

Ques. What can I do after completing Journalism?

Ans. After completing journalism there are other options as well that one can explore such as

  • Content writing
  • Advertising
  • Public Relations
  • Digital Marketing

Ques. Which are the areas in which journalists can practice?

Ans.  There are several areas in which a Journalist can practice:

  • Media Houses
  • TV Channels
  • Magazines
  • Books and Novels
  • Websites
  • Blogs
  • Journals
  • Social Media

Ques. What are the skills that a journalist must possess?

Ans. The Journalists must possess the following set of skills:

  • Good communication skills
  • Persistence
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Acquaintance skills

Ques. What are the certification courses for Journalism?

Ans. After completing class 12th or after graduation, the candidate can do certifications courses that are mostly available on the online websites such as

  • How to be a Journalist
  • Investigative Journalism
  • Criminal Journalism
  • Data Journalism and Media Standards

Ques. What courses of Journalism we can pursue post-graduation?

Ans. After completing graduation, the candidate can opt to do a job or pursue post-graduation. There are several courses that a candidate can take up such as M.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication and M.A. in Journalism.

Ques. Can I study Journalism abroad and do a job in India?

Ans. Yes, you can study journalism abroad and after that, they can come back and do a job in India. This will act as an added advantage in the career of the candidate. The salary package will be around INR 6-8 LPA.

Ques. Is Journalism a good career option?

Ans. Yes, without a doubt, journalism is a very good career option in India. It is one of the highest-paying jobs in India. The starting salary of journalists is around INR 4.60 LPA. The highest salary can be up to INR 3 Crores per annum.

Ques. Which country is best for doing Journalism?

Ans. The United Kingdom, Canada, and Singapore are some of the top countries for journalism. If the candidate is willing to do journalism then they can pursue it from some of the top colleges in these countries.

Ques. What to pursue to become a journalist?

Ans. Students can pursue a bachelor’s degree, and master’s degree in Journalism. There are various certifications and diploma courses to become a journalist.

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