Michigan Newscasters: Are They Earning a Livable Wage?

There are a lot of misconceptions about local news. One of them is that the people you see on TV are living lavishly. It's hard not to believe this when they always look so put together.

However, before taking a job with Townsquare Media, I was one of those people on TV. Let me tell you, I often found myself struggling to get by.

My whole life, I’ve been taught not to talk about money or ask people what they make. A common misconception is that it is illegal to do so. However, under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), employees have the right to discuss their wages with coworkers and communicate with labor organizations, worker centers, the media, and the public.

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So I’ll tell you. My first news job was in Helena, MT, in 2021. I made $32,000 during COVID-19, and everyone was interested in relocating to the Treasure State. My rent alone was $1,000; I lived on canned vegetables and rice and couldn’t afford to put any money into savings.

In recent years, newscasters have been calling it quits left and right for a number of reasons, but low pay certainly doesn't help. The recent transparency among newscasters about what they make is more common now because they are tired of being undervalued for their hard work.

Of course, it’s important to recognize that a "livable" wage can mean different things to different people, depending on their individual circumstances and location. While the salaries mentioned reflect industry standards in Michigan, many talented journalists are working hard for less.

In Michigan, here are the salaries I was able to find for newscasters on various industry Facebook pages, Glassdoor, and other employee review sites:

Flint-Saginaw Salaries
$65,000 (News Anchor)
$42,000 (News Reporter)

Lansing Salaries
$50,000 (Meteorologist)
$56,000 (News Reporter)
$38,000 (Sports Reporter)

Cadillac-Traverse City
$55,000 (News Anchor)
$42,000 (Sports Reporter)
$49,000 (News Reporter)

Kalamazoo
$52,000 (News Reporter/Anchor)
$50,000 (News Reporter)

Detroit
$80,000 (News Reporter)
$55,000 (News Reporter)
$72,000 (News Reporter)
$53,000 (News Reporter)

As you can see, the salaries vary quite a bit, typically company to company depending on where their priorities lie. For example, reporters under the Scripps umbrella lately will be paid higher because they have mostly eliminated the anchor position for their new "Neighborhood News" model.

As the industry continues to evolve, it's essential for those within it to advocate for fair compensation and better working conditions. After all, a well-informed public relies on dedicated journalists, and it’s time we ensure that dedication is properly valued.