The average sports writer salary varies widely based on a number of factors, including experience, location and the type of publication. Broadly speaking, the average sports writer salary ranges from $30,000 to $50,000 a year. Glassdoor places the average just below $32,000, while ZipRecruiter names $49,000 as the average sports writer pay.
| Job Title | Salary |
|---|---|
| Staff Writer salaries - 4 salaries reported | $44,979/yr |
| Writer salaries - 3 salaries reported | $49,943/yr |
| Senior Editor salaries - 2 salaries reported | $75,096/yr |
| Product Designer salaries - 2 salaries reported | $81,011/yr |
How much do sports writers get paid?
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Sports Writer in the United States. The base salary for Sports Writer ranges from $33,135 to $43,144 with the average base salary of $37,651.
How much do journalists get paid for the athletic?
Journalists also get a small stake in the firm. Per the Wall Street Journal, The Athletic currently has more than 100,000 subscribers, who ostensibly pay $5 a month or $60 a year but often actually pay less thanks to frequent deals and discounts. That means annual revenue for the site probably falls around, say, $5 million.
What degree do you need to become a sports writer?
To become a sports writer, you'll need at least a bachelor's degree in journalism or communications. Many employers will also expect you to have at least three or more years of experience as a sports writer.
How do I get Started in the sports writing business?
One of the best ways to get your feet wet in the sports writing biz is to become a freelancer. You get to be your own boss, and you get some great experience doing what you love while building up a base of reliable, paying clients.
How much do ESPN sports writers make?
What is the salary for Sports Reporter at ESPN? The salary for Sports Reporter at ESPN is $41,000 annually.
Do sports writers make good money?
Salary Ranges for Sports Writers The salaries of Sports Writers in the US range from $10,186 to $152,056 , with a median salary of $27,865 .
How much does an NFL beat writer make?
$57,161. How accurate does $57,161 look to you?
How much do ESPN senior writers make?
ESPN Salary FAQs The salary trajectory of a Senior Editor ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at $55,893 per year and goes up to $118,848 per year for the highest level of seniority.
How do I become a sports writer?
How to become a sportswriterLearn about sports.Play a sport in high school.Take composition courses in high school.Read sports-related news content.Accept any writing position.Earn a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism.Tell a story with your writing.Complete an internship.
What degree do you need to be a sports writer?
Sports writers need a degree in English, journalism or communications; some schools also offer sports journalism programs or courses.
How much do the NFL announcers get paid?
The NFL is the highest level in the sport, and its announcers are paid accordingly. The top announcers make more than $1 million a season. Industry averages are not published by sport or league, but major TV broadcast networks pay the top salaries and often hire former star players to their broadcast teams.
How much money does an NFL sideline reporter make?
Sideline Reporters make the most in San Francisco, CA at $69,683, averaging total compensation 51% greater than the US average.
What do sports beat writers make?
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a beat reporter. For example, did you know that they make an average of $31.6 an hour? That's $65,737 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -10% and produce -5,100 job opportunities across the U.S.
Who is the highest paid ESPN analyst?
Stephen A. Smith is more of an entertainer than a sportscaster. A very successful one. At $12 million a year, he is the highest paid on-air employee at ESPN.
How do you become a sports writer for ESPN?
Education Requirements You'll need a bachelor's degree and experience in the industry to land an on-air position at a national network. ESPN internships can help give you an “in,” but if you want to be a reporter for the network, you'll still need to get some on-air experience in smaller TV markets to qualify.
How much does an ESPN cameraman make?
Average ESPN Videographer yearly pay in the United States is approximately $68,251, which is 52% above the national average.
Is there money in sports journalism?
As of Oct 8, 2022, the average annual pay for a Sports Journalist in the United States is $44,064 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $21.18 an hour.
How much do freelance sports writers make?
While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $132,500 and as low as $11,500, the majority of Freelance Sports Writer salaries currently range between $23,000 (25th percentile) to $63,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $112,500 annually across the United States.
How much do MLB beat writers make?
The average salary for an Associate Beat Reporter () is $45,969 per year in United States, which is 31% lower than the average Major League Baseball (MLB) salary of $67,480 per year for this job.
Do FanSided bloggers get paid?
FanSided contributors create the best content on the Internet for their fandoms. As independent contractors, contributors share their knowledge and passion for teams, sports, movies, TV series, and more. Our contributors are compensated based on the performance of their articles.
Most common benefits
The average salary for a sports writer is $13.84 per hour in the United States. 128 salaries reported, updated at January 15, 2022.
How much should you be earning?
Get an estimated calculation of how much you should be earning and insight into your career options. See more details
How much does a sports writer make in 2021?
the United States. How much does a Sports Writer make in the United States? The average Sports Writer salary in the United States is $36,493 as of June 28, 2021, but the salary range typically falls between $32,121 and $41,815. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, ...
What is a Sports Writer ?
Sports journalism is a form of writing that reports on sporting topics and competitions. Sports journalism is the essential element of many news media organizations. While the sports department (along with entertainment news) within some newspapers has been mockingly called the toy department, because sports journalists do not concern themselves with the 'serious' topics covered by the news desk, sports coverage has grown in importance as sport has grown in wealth, power, and influence. Also, some media organizations are devoted entirely to sports reporting — newspapers and magazines such a...
How much does the Athletic pay?
Per the Wall Street Journal, The Athletic currently has more than 100,000 subscribers, who ostensibly pay $5 a month or $60 a year but often actually pay less thanks to frequent deals and discounts. That means annual revenue for the site probably falls around, say, $5 million. Is that enough to cover salary plus benefits for 150 employees? Certainly not. Is it enough to please the investors who have sunk $30 million into the young company? Given how successful The Athletic has been at fundraising and how quickly it has grown, it sure seems so.
How many employees does the Athletic have?
The Athletic, which now has 150 employees, has recruited top talent in markets such as San Francisco and Boston with premium salaries. An editor at a competing company said the Athletic offered his employees between 15% and 36% markups on their six-figure salaries to join the company.
What is the talent of a sports writer?
Being able to translate a sports event into words on paper is another talent sports writers have. They turn words into visuals for the reader, which allows the reader to put himself in the bleachers, instead of sitting on the sofa reading the account in the newspaper. Sports journalists work all hours and in all locations if the team travels. They thrive on junk food and are married to the game.
What does a sports journalist like?
A sports journalist likes the smell of sweat. They hang around the clubhouse and the locker room, tail favorite sports personalities and get to know them well. Relationships are vital to becoming a successful sports journalist. They know their teams inside and out and have the ability to analyze every facet of the game, including who’s playing, who’s not and why.
Do sports reporters work in print?
While the work staff may be low , at least one sports reporter is usually relied upon to deliver the news in print. The expansion of sports into the cable industry is another avenue pursued by sports writers.
Salary and Qualifications
You may someday join the ranks of sports writers who earn six-figure incomes or higher, including Rick Reilly of Sports Illustrated, Bob Ryan of The Boston Globe and John Feinstein of The Washington Post.
Salary by Region
In 2013, average salaries for sports writers varied most significantly within the South, according to Simply Hired, where they earned the most in Washington, D.C., and the least in Mississippi -- $78,000 and $38,000, respectively. Those in the West made $40,000 to $56,000 in Montana and California, respectively.
Contributing Factors
A sports writer can earn more in certain industries. For example, reporters and correspondents earned relatively high salaries of $57,050 in the cable and other subscription programming industry as of May 2012, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. They made $50,640 per year working in radio and television broadcasting.
Career Outlook
The BLS projects an 8-percent decline in jobs for reporters, correspondents and broadcast news analysts from 2010 to 2020, far below the growth rate of 14 percent for all occupations. A consolidation of news agencies and declines in newspaper readership will decrease job opportunities for sport writers during this decade.
What is the dream job of a sports writer?
The dream job for an aspiring sports writer would be penning articles for a major newspaper, or contributing to one of the big sports media giants like ESPN. But those are tough gigs to land. There are thousands upon thousands of sports fans out there who would love to become writers, so the competition is pretty fierce.
How to get your feet wet in sports writing?
One of the best ways to get your feet wet in the sports writing biz is to become a freelancer. You get to be your own boss, and you get some great experience doing what you love while building up a base of reliable, paying clients.
What is Athlon Media Group?
Athlon media group is looking for NFL and college football fans who have solid writing chops to join their team of regular content contributors. You'll need to fill out a form and submit links to two published sample articles. The pay rate is unspecified.
Does Upwork have sports writing jobs?
Upwork always has quite a few job postings looking for writers who can produce sports content quickly and professionally. The pay rates are all over the place, but new jobs get posted all the time, so you never know what you might find. Go here to browse the sports writing jobs on Upwork or read our Upwork review first.
Is the pay based on traffic?
The pay is based on traffic with no ceiling.
Can you pitch an article concept?
You can pitch article concepts or apply for a regular contributor position, which apparently offers a very flexible schedule and the freedom to come up with your own article ideas.
Can you make money writing sports?
Fortunately, though it will probably take a while to reach the top of the sports writing ladder, you can still make some decent money along the way.
