1998 CALIFORNIA SALARY SURVEY
About Your Pay
Wondering how your salary stacks up against other journalists? Against editors? In California? In the nation?
The following statistics report the total compensation for selected newsroom jobs in daily newspapers. Statistics are presented by position, with California and national breakdowns, and reported by circulation categories. More than 40 California newspapers participated in the survey, 471 newspapers participated nationally. However, not every paper reported for every position. The number of newspapers reporting is noted with each position. The salary figures represent the median total direct compensation for each category.
This is a service of the California Society of Newspaper Editors. It is a special report on the 1998 California breakout of the Newspaper Industry Compensation Survey, prepared exclusively for CSNE by the Illinois-based Inland Press Association. For the complete statistics on salaries in the U.S. contact the Inland Press Association in Park Ridge, Illinois.
The positions presented in this report:
42 California daily newspapers reported in the survey. 22 papers reported on this job. Here are the results in the circulation categories reporting significant data:
30,001 - 50,000 75,001 - 100,000 150,001 - 250,000 250,001 - 500,000 $60,091 $68,383 $83,522 $106,020
Nationally, 163 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:
30,001 - 50,000 75,001 - 100,000 150,001 - 250,000 250,001 - 500,000 $48,900 $58,968 $80,366 $102,900
55 California newspapers reported on this job. Here are the results in the circulation categories reporting significant data:
15,001 - 20,000 20,001 - 30,000 30,001 - 50,000 50,001 - 75,000 $35,000 $39,385 $45,884 $52,686 75,001 - 100,000 150,001 - 250,000 250,001 - 500,000 $57,408 $70,590 $91,972
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 $34,458 $36,946 $42,140 $47,150 75,001 - 100,000 150,001 - 250,000 250,001 - 500,000 $53,638 $64,012 $85,800
41 California daily newspapers reported in the survey. 22 newspapers reported this job. Here are the results in the circulation categories reporting significant data:
20,001 - 30,000 30,001 - 50,000 75,001 - 100,000 $35,547 $39,760 $46,664 150,001 - 250,000 250,001 - 500,000 $53,111 $67,750
Nationally, 210 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:
20,001 - 30,000 30,001 - 50,000 75,001 - 100,000 $30,573 $34,944 $45,944 150,001 - 250,000 250,001 - 500,000 $51,123 $58,290
(This includes all signed columns and columnist positions; general assignment, beats, sports, business, etc.)
41 California daily newspapers reported in the survey, 33 reported this job. Here are the pay medians in the circulation categories reporting significant data:
30,001 - 50,000 50,001 - 75,000 75,001 - 100,000 $48,210 $44,666 $48,094 150,001 - 250,000 250,001 - 500,000 $74,267 $70,547
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 $38,313 $42,302 $48,339 150,001 - 250,000 250,001 - 500,000 $61,190 $68,120
(Supervises copy editing, story selection, play and layout; makes or recommends hiring decisions)
45 California newspapers reported this job. Here are the results in the circulation categories reporting significant data:
15,001 - 20,000 20,001 - 30,000 30,001 - 50,000 50,001 - 75,000 $30,160 $41,262 $42,226 $50,835 75,001 - 100,000 150,001 - 250,000 250,001 - 500,000 $64,172 $54,899 $72,834
Nationally, 293 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 $28,856 $35,000 $39,926 $44,579 75,001 - 100,000 150,001 - 250,000 250,001 - 500,000 $51,480 $59,400 $70,900
(Has some newsroom experience. Edits news and writes headlines; may do layout.)
39 California newspapers reported this job. Here are the results in the circulation categories reporting significant data:
10,001 - 15,000 15,001 - 20,000 20,001 - 30,000 30,001 - 50,000 $23,400 $26,395 $26,052 $25,433 75,001 - 100,000 150,001 - 250,000 250,001 - 500,000 $30,524 $29,900 $41,586
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:
10,001 - 15,000 15,001 - 20,000 20,001 - 30,000 30,001 - 50,000 $22,720 $20,972 $22,880 $24,740 75,001 - 100,000 150,001 - 250,000 250,001 - 500,000 $28,730 $33,198 $41,048
(Has significant newsroom experience. Edits news and writes headlines; lays out pages. May edit special sections. Most senior of copy editing positions.)
45 California daily newspapers reported this job. Here are the results in the circulation categories reporting significant data:
20,001 - 30,000 30,001 - 50,000 50,001 - 75,000 75,001 - 100,000 $32,833 $32,114 $36,451 $39,266 150,001 - 250,000 250,001 - 500,000 $43,716 $50,532
Nationally, 309 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:
20,001 - 30,000 30,001 - 50,000 50,001 - 75,000 75,001 - 100,000 $28,881 $31,424 $34,150 $36,679 150,001 - 250,000 250,001 - 500,000 $44,088 $50,974
47 California daily newspapers reported this job. Here are the results in the circulation categories reporting significant data:
15,001 - 20,000 20,001 - 30,000 30,001 - 50,000 50,001 - 75,000 $35,990 $39,000 $40,000 $46,399 75,001 - 100,000 150,001 - 250,000 250,001 - 500,000 $57,700 $58,874 $86,317
Nationally, 315 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 $28,704 $31,000 $37,933 $43,200 75,001 - 100,000 150,001 - 250,000 250,000 - 500,000 $53,144 $61,800 $72,000
38 California daily newspapers reported this job. Here are the results in the circulation categories reporting significant data:
30,001 - 50,000 50,001 - 75,000 75,001 - 100,000 $29,733 $35,999 $33,597 150,001 - 250,000 250,001 - 500,000 $43,624 $51,599
Nationally, 244 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:
30,001 - 50,000 50,001 - 75,000 75,001 - 100,000 $28,342 $30,250 $32,389 150,001 - 250,000 250,001 - 500,000 $42,052 $48,657
42 California daily newspapers reported this job. Here are the results in the circulation categories reporting significant data:
15,001 - 20,000 20,001 - 30,000 30,001 - 50,000 50,001 - 75,000 $24,985 $22,172 $22,755 $26,715 75,001 - 100,000 150,001 - 250,000 250,000 - 500,000 $36,157 $46,470 $77,099
Nationally, 258 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 $18,720 $20,124 $23,275 $26,479 75,001 - 100,000 150,001 - 250,000 250,000 - 500,000 $33,321 $50,786 $59,159
(Assigns and coordinates photographers, selects photos for publication)
46 California daily newspapers reported this job. Here are the results in the circulation categories reporting significant data:
15,001 - 20,000 20,001 - 30,000 30,001 - 50,000 50,001 - 75,000 $34,652 $38,350 $40,504 $52,040 75,001 - 100,000 150,001 - 250,000 250,000 - 500,000 $51,701 $58,874 $84,473
Nationally, 311 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 $29,124 $32,337 $35,490 $44,616 75,001 - 100,000 150,001 - 250,000 250,000 - 500,000 $48,573 $61,930 $76,270
58 California daily newspapers reported this job. Here are the results in the circulation categories reporting significant data:
10,001 - 15,000 15,001 - 20,000 20,001 - 30,000 30,001 - 50,000 $20,764 $27,270 $29,751 $28,800 50,001 - 75,000 75,001 - 100,000 150,001 - 250,000 250,001 - 500,000 $39,818 $43,452 $38,753 $49,903
Nationally, 415 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:
10,001 - 15,000 15,001 - 20,000 20,001 - 30,000 30,001 - 50,000 $21,369 $21,801 $24,769 $26,686 50,001 - 75,000 75,001 - 100,000 150,001 - 250,000 250,001 - 500,000 $31,200 $34,220 $41,221 $50,027
(Has substantial, broad experience, handles all types of stories, including investigative articles and in-depth series; may have special assignments.)
46 California daily newspapers reported this job. Here are the results in the circulation categories reporting significant data:
15,001 - 20,000 20,001 - 30,000 30,001 - 50,000 50,001 - 75,000 $32,438 $33,826 $33,789 $41,090 75,001 - 100,000 150,001 - 250,000 250,000 - 500,000 $41,262 $50,000 $54,112
Nationally, 305 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 $25,974 $30,160 $32,489 $37,066 75,001 - 100,000 150,001 - 250,000 250,000 - 500,000 $40,925 $52,045 $54,014
(Has previous experience; beat assignments and development of story ideas)
54 California daily newspapers reported this job. Here are the results in the circulation categories reporting significant data:
10,001 - 15,000 15,001 - 20,000 20,001 - 30,000 30,001 - 50,000 $20,369 $27,820 $26,000 $27,357 50,001 - 75,000 75,001 - 100,000 150,001 - 250,000 250,001 - 500,000 $34,091 $34,340 $42,443 $43,239
Nationally, 415 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:
10,001 - 15,000 15,001 - 20,000 20,001 - 30,000 30,001 - 50,000 $21,320 $21,632 $24,286 $26,743 50,001 - 75,000 75,001 - 100,000 150,001 - 250,000 250,001 - 500,000 $30,112 $32,000 $39,900 $45,844
(Little or no experience; handles routine office assignments and stories under supervision.)
36 California newspapers reported this job. Here are the results in the circulation categories reporting significant data:
20,001 - 30,000 30,001 - 50,000 75,001 - 100,000 150,001 - 250,000 $21,216 $23,920 $26,498 $28,166
Nationally, 280 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:
20,001 - 30,000 30,001 - 50,000 75,001 - 100,000 150,001 - 250,000 $20,516 $22,339 $25,740 $29,112
57 California newspapers reported this job. Here are the results in the circulation categories reporting significant data:
less than 10,000 10,001 - 15,000 15,001 - 20,000 $25,480 $27,492 $36,888 20,001 - 30,000 30,001 - 50,000 50,001 - 75,000 $39,369 $41,954 $54,085 75,001 - 100,000 150,001 - 250,000 250,001 - 500,000 $55,460 $65,190 $82,784
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:
less than 10,000 10,001 - 15,000 15,001 - 20,000 $22,252 $26,374 $30,500 20,001 - 30,000 30,001 - 50,000 50,001 - 75,000 $34,834 $39,832 $45,136 75,001 - 100,000 150,001 - 250,000 250,001 - 500,000 $54,912 $71,781 $84,954
Want to know how this year compares to the figures from last year?
Click here for the report on the 1997 Industry Compensation Survey.
*CALIFORNIA EDITORS,
if this special CSNE service is to continue and become more useful. The 1999 survey will be sent to all dailies soon. The more California newspapers responding, the more meaningful information can be made available to you for comparison. Offer your assistance to your publisher or human resources department to make certain that your newspaper takes part in the survey.
EDITOR'S NOTE: These survey results are provided by the California Society of Newspaper Editors and posted with the permission of the Inland Press Association. The Newspaper Industry Compensation Survey 1998 is produced and copyrights are held by the Inland Press Association. This information may not be reproduced or retransmitted without permission. For more information contact California Journalism Online Editor Becky Day, with a simple mouse click. If your browser doesn't support this function, her address is beckyday@csne.org.
