1997paysurvey.html

1997

CALIFORNIA SALARY SURVEY

The positions presented in this report:

Art/Graphic Director
Assistant Managing Editor
City/Metro Editor
Assistant City Editor
Columnist
Copy Desk Chief
Copy Editor 1 (Some experience)
Copy Editor 2 (Significant experience)
Lifestyle Editor
News Artist/Designer
News Librarian
Director of Photography
Photographer
Senior Reporter (broad experience)
Experienced Reporter (some experience)
Entry Level Reporter (little or no experience)
Sports Editor

ART/GRAPHICS DIRECTOR:

42 California daily newspapers reported in the 1997 survey, 21 reported this job. Here are the pay medians in the three circulation categories reporting significant data:

* California

30,001 - 50,000    50,001 - 100,000     100,001 and over
$39,748              $52,600              $71,897

* National

Nationally, 180 daily newspapers reported on salaries for this position in 11 circulation categories. Here are the amounts in selected categories that provide the best information for comparison to the categories reporting in California:

30,001 - 50,000      50,001 - 75,000       75,001 - 100,000
$339,332                $44,000                $50,329

100,001 - 150,000      500,001 and over
$51,266                   $97,000

ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR:

* California

42 California daily newspapers reported in the survey. 15 papers reported on this job in five circulation categories. Here are the results in the two categories reporting significant data:

50,001 - 100,000     100,001 and over
$64,172              $93,375

* National

Nationally, 152 newspapers reported in 11 categories for this job. Here are the amounts in selected categories that provide the best information for comparison to the categories reporting in California:

50,001 - 75,000       75,001 - 100,000      100,001 - 150,000       500,001 and over

$53,820              $54,600                 $63,731                   $118,867

CITY/METRO EDITOR:

* California

42 California daily newspapers reported in the survey. 35 papers reported on this job in five circulation categories. Here are the results in the four categories reporting significant data:

15,001 - 30,000      30,001 - 50,000     50,001 - 100,000     100,001 and over
$39,000                 $43,524              $60,880              $66,977

* National

Nationally, 370 newspapers reported in 11 categories for this job. Here are the amounts in selected categories that provide the best information for comparison to the categories reporting in California:

15,001 - 20,000      20,001 - 30,000     30,001 - 50,000        50,001 - 75,000
$32,693                  $36,453            $41,132                $48,372

75,001 - 100,000      100,001 - 150,000       500,001 and over
$52,000                 $56,211                  $106,143

ASSISTANT CITY EDITOR:

* California

42 California daily newspapers reported in the survey. 35 papers reported on this job in five circulation categories. Here are the results in the four categories reporting significant data:

15,001 - 30,000      30,001 - 50,000     50,001 - 100,000     100,001 and over
$36,639                 $38,147              $44,361              $54,162

* National

Nationally, 223 newspapers reported in 11 categories for this job. Here are the amounts in selected categories that provide the best information for comparison to the categories reporting in California:

15,001 - 20,000      20,001 - 30,000     30,001 - 50,000        50,001 - 75,000
$27,085                  $31,460            $34,836                $37,232

75,001 - 100,000      100,001 - 150,000       500,001 and over
$43,342                 $44,330                   $63,720

COLUMNIST:

(This includes all signed columns and columnist positions; general assignment, beats, sports, business, etc.)

42 California daily newspapers reported in the survey, 22 reported this job. Here are the pay medians in the three circulation categories reporting significant data:

* California

30,001 - 50,000    50,001 - 100,000     100,001 and over
$43,784              $49,940              $80,833

* National

Nationally, 172 daily newspapers reported on salaries for this position in 11 circulation categories ranging from less than 10,000 to more than 500,000. Here are the amounts in selected categories that provide the best information for comparison to the categories reporting in California:

30,001 - 50,000      50,001 - 75,000       75,001 - 100,000
$39,520                $42,900                $46,367

100,001 - 150,000      500,001 and over
$49,218                   $84,998

COPY DESK CHIEF:

(Supervises copy editing, story selection, play and layout; makes or recommends hiring decisions)

* California

29 California newspapers reported in five circulation categories for this job. Here are the results in the four categories reporting significant data:

15,001 - 30,000      30,001 - 50,000    50,001 - 100,000     100,001 and over
$39,955                $42,213             $56,147              $62,920

* National

Nationally, 305 newspapers reported in 11 circulation categories for this job. Here are the median amounts in selected categories that provide the best information for comparison to the categories reporting in California:

15,001 - 20,000   20,001 - 30,000    30,001 - 50,000        50,001 - 75,000
$30,370              $34,691              $38,547             $44,372

75,001 - 100,000      100,001 - 150,000       500,001 and over
$49,337                  $46,987                  $75,657

COPY EDITOR I:

(Has some newsroom experience. Edits news and writes headlines; may do layout.)

* California

36 California newspapers reported in five circulation categories for this job. Here are the results in the four categories reporting significant data:

15,001 - 30,000      30,001 - 50,000    50,001 - 100,000     100,001 and over
$26,468                $27,040             $33,520              $36,937

* National

Nationally, 270 newspapers reported in 11 circulation categories for this job. Here are the median amounts in selected categories that provide the best information for comparison to the categories reporting in California:

15,001 - 20,000   20,001 - 30,000    30,001 - 50,000        50,001 - 75,000
$21,816              $22,750              $24,055             $26,182

75,001 - 100,000      100,001 - 150,000       500,001 and over
$27,090                  $31,147                  $43,355

COPY EDITOR II :

(Has significant newsroom experience. Edits news and writes headlines; lays out pages. May edit special sections. Most senior of copy editing positions.)

* California

29 California daily newspapers reported in five circulation categories. Here are the results in the four categories reporting significant data:

15,001 - 30,000      30,001 - 50,000    50,001 - 100,000     100,001 and over
$30,958                $30,909             $40,161              $47,073

* National

Nationally, 303 newspapers reported this job in 11 categories. Here are the amounts in selected categories that provide the best information for comparison to the categories reporting in California:

15,001 - 20,000     20,001 - 30,000      30,001 - 50,000        50,001 - 75,000
$27,734               $28,656               $31,831                $33,185

75,001 - 100,000        100,001 - 150,000        500,001 and over
$34,251                   $38,313                   $59,488

LIFESTYLE EDITOR:

* California

28 California daily newspapers reported this job in five circulation categories. Here are the results in the four categories reporting significant data:

15,001 - 30,000      30,001 - 50,000     50,001 - 100,000     100,001 and over
$35,738                 $42,720              $52,723              $69,440

* National

Nationally, 349 newspapers reported the job in 11 categories. Here are the amounts in selected categories that provide the best information for comparison to the categories reporting in California:

15,001 - 20,000      20,001 - 30,000     30,001 - 50,000        50,001 - 75,000
$25,740                  $29,380            $37,524                $43,797

75,001 - 100,000      100,001 - 150,000       500,001 and over
$50,034                 $52,884                  $83,898

NEWS ARTIST/DESIGNER:

* California

28 California daily newspapers reported this job in five circulation categories. Here are the results in the four categories reporting significant data:

15,001 - 30,000      30,001 - 50,000     50,001 - 100,000     100,001 and over
$26,323                 $29,702              $31,200              $49,442

* National

Nationally, 243 newspapers reported this job in 11 categories. Here are the amounts in selected categories that provide the best information for comparison to the categories reporting in California:

15,001 - 20,000      20,001 - 30,000     30,001 - 50,000        50,001 - 75,000
$23,950                  $25,710            $27,040                $30,027

75,001 - 100,000      100,001 - 150,000       500,001 and over
$29,550                 $39,355                  $54,340

NEWS LIBRARIAN:

* California

28 California daily newspapers reported this job in five circulation categories. Here are the results in the four categories reporting significant data:

15,001 - 30,000      30,001 - 50,000     50,001 - 100,000     100,001 and over
$27,512                 $22,484              $39,000              $54,362

* National

Nationally, 275 newspapers reported this job in 11 categories. Here are the amounts in selected categories that provide the best information for comparison to the categories reporting in California:

15,001 - 20,000      20,001 - 30,000     30,001 - 50,000        50,001 - 75,000
$19,048                  $21,154            $23,250                $26,208

75,001 - 100,000      100,001 - 150,000       500,001 and over
$35,100                 $39,226                  $66,924

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY:

(Assigns and coordinates photographers, selects photos for publication)

* California

29 California daily newspapers reported this job in five circulation categories. Here are the results in the four categories reporting significant data:

15,001 - 30,000      30,001 - 50,000     50,001 - 100,000     100,001 and over
$30,659                 $43,794              $50,700              $60,060

* National

Nationally, 328 newspapers reported this job in 11 categories. Here are the amounts in selected categories that provide the best information for comparison to the categories reporting in California:

15,001 - 20,000      20,001 - 30,000     30,001 - 50,000        50,001 - 75,000
$27,800                  $30,950            $35,606                $43,472

75,001 - 100,000      100,001 - 150,000       500,001 and over
$45,599                 $50,547                  $88,924

PHOTOGRAPHER:

* California

36 California daily newspapers reported this job in five circulation categories. Here are the results in the four categories reporting significant data:

15,001 - 30,000      30,001 - 50,000     50,001 - 100,000     100,001 and over
$24,960                 $29,900              $39,260              $44,973

* National

Nationally, 436 newspapers reported this job in 11 categories. Here are the amounts in selected categories that provide the best information for comparison to the categories reporting in California:

15,001 - 20,000      20,001 - 30,000     30,001 - 50,000        50,001 - 75,000
$22,568                  $23,544            $26,780                $32,120

75,001 - 100,000      100,001 - 150,000       500,001 and over
$33,683                 $36,426                  $58,760

REPORTER, SENIOR:

(Has substantial, broad experience, handles all types of stories, including investigative articles and in-depth series; may have special assignments.)

* California

26 California daily newspapers reported this job in five circulation categories. Here are the results in the four categories reporting significant data:

15,001 - 30,000      30,001 - 50,000    50,001 - 100,000     100,001 and over
$29,817                  $31,154           $40,757               $51,857

* National

Nationally, 333 newspapers reported in 11 categories. Here are the amounts in selected categories that provide the best information for comparison to the categories reporting in California:

15,001 - 20,000   20,001 - 30,000    30,001 - 50,000        50,001 - 75,000
$25,880             $28,567            $31,993                $36,316

75,001 - 100,000      100,001 - 150,000       500,001 and over
$36,586                   $39,614                 $59,085

REPORTER, EXPERIENCED:

(Has previous experience; beat assignments and development of story ideas)

* California

40 California daily newspapers reported this job with significant data in five circulation categories. Here are the results:

15,001 - 30,000      30,001 - 50,000    50,001 - 100,000     100,001 and over
$24,877                  $26,957           $32,490               $41,475

* National

Nationally, 424 newspapers reported this job in 11 categories. Here are the amounts in selected categories that provide the best information for comparison to the categories reporting in California:

15,001 - 20,000   20,001 - 30,000    30,001 - 50,000        50,001 - 75,000
$22,611             $23,317            $26,468                $28,776

75,001 - 100,000      100,001 - 150,000       500,001 and over
$30,966                   $33,280                 $59,878

REPORTER, ENTRY LEVEL:

(Little or no experience; handles routine office assignments and stories under supervision.)

* California

24 California daily newspapers reported this job in five circulation categories. Here are the results in the four categories reporting significant data:

15,001 - 30,000      30,001 - 50,000     50,001 - 100,000     100,001 and over
$22,100                 $26,828              $26,582              $25,048

* National

Nationally, 287 newspapers reported this job in 11 categories. Here are the amounts in selected categories that provide the best information for comparison to the categories reporting in California:

15,001 - 20,000      20,001 - 30,000     30,001 - 50,000        50,001 - 75,000
$18,900                  $21,536            $23,166                $23,091

75,001 - 100,000      100,001 - 150,000       500,001 and over
$25,058                $24,960                  $33,020

SPORTS EDITOR:

* California

32 California daily newspapers reported significant data for this job in five circulation categories. Here are the results:

15,001 - 30,000      30,001 - 50,000     50,001 - 100,000     100,001 and over
$29,390                 $38,303              $61,000              $65,260

* National

Nationally, 461 newspapers reported this job in 11 categories. Here are the amounts in selected categories that provide the best information for comparison to the categories reporting in California:

15,001 - 20,000      20,001 - 30,000     30,001 - 50,000        50,001 - 75,000
$29,833                  $33,850            $38,428                $43,958

75,001 - 100,000      100,001 - 150,000       500,001 and over
$53,280                $55,029                  $103,325

What to know how this year compares to the figures from last year?

Click here for the report on the 1996 Industry Compensation Survey.

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