This article provides an analysis of journalist salary in India, enabling a clear comprehension of earnings across roles, specializations, media platforms, and regions. Whether you are just starting out or embarking on a journey of development in the journalism industry, the insights this piece provides will serve as a helpful guide towards making sound career decisions. |
Journalism in India continues to evolve with the growth of digital channels and the demand for real-time news. As journalism has changed, opportunities for careers in journalism have also, and they may look very different, with careers in journalism now ranging from traditional print journalism to creating content for digital platforms. The following guide focuses on the journalist salary in India and covers different specializations, job designations, media formats, and geographic differences. If you're an aspiring journalist, planning to change your career, or exploring the media landscape, this guide will provide you with an understanding of a journalist's salary so you can make educated and informed decisions about your potential earnings.
Journalist Salary in India
The salary of a journalist in India can vary widely based on a few key factors, especially experience level, the type of media organization, employer stature, and skill set. Entry-level journalists start out at low levels of pay, but their pay expands as they grow more experienced and competent in the occupation. Well experienced professionals, such as editors and senior reporters, and especially those working for prestigious media organizations, make very high salaries.
Journalist Salary by Level of Experience in India
The journalist salary in India is largely contingent on experience in the profession. Journalists with experience in practice and who have improved their storytelling and investigative reporting skills, and developed an authentic portfolio of work, will experience very different earning potential compared to novice professionals. Regardless of whether you are new to the field of journalism or a senior editor, it is essential to investigate and understand the salary trends by level of experience for career purposes.
Key variables affecting a Journalist Salary in India
There is no straight salary for journalists in India, multiple factors impact a journalist's salary. Educating oneself on the variables can help both aspiring media professionals and experienced media professionals better understand their earning potential and therefore be well-informed on the career they decide to undertake.
1. Employer reputation
Media houses that are well established generally pay higher salaries and have better career progression opportunities than their regional counterparts. Typically, employers with a national or international reputation pay higher salaries.
2. Media Type
The media type a journalist works in has a big impact on their salary because more digital and broadcast media facts are being published, therefore salaries in those industries are higher than in print journalism.
3. Skills and Areas of Specialization
Specialist skills can add tremendous market value to an individual journalist's worth. Journalists working in a specialization that is in high demand tend to earn higher salaries.
4. Geographical Location
Lastly, where the journalist is employed can have an effect on salary level due to the cost of living, demand in the local labour market, and density of media organizations.
Salary of Journalist in India Based on Specialization
The journalist salary in India varies somewhat widely based on specialization. Every journalist specialization presents opportunities in demand, engagement from the audience, as well as complexity and knowledge of the topic. We can overview the differences in salaries based on specialization of journalism.
The Importance of Specialties in Journalism Careers
Picking the right specialty not only sets the tone for your career path but has a large impact on your pay. Typically, high demand areas, such as business journalism, political reporting, and sports journalism, present a greater salary potential. However, digital journalism continues to grow at extremely rapid rates, with roles that we would associate with digital journalism, and competitive wages.
Journalists Salary in India by Job Title
Below is a detailed account of the average journalist salary in India by job title and role:
Journalist Salaries in India by Medium of Publication
A salary for a journalist in India is dependent on media type (print, broadcast, digital, radio) which depends on audience size, type of media, and the business model. Here is a quick overview:
Journalist Salary segmented by Cities in India (2025)
Salaries for journalists in India vary greatly by city, as it can be reliant on numerous factors such as the media environment, cost of living, and demands of the industry. Here is a short synopsis:
Delhi: ₹1.7 LPA – ₹9.6 LPA
- Delhi, being the capital city of India, has large numbers of national media houses who pay a broad range of salaries for journalists.
Mumbai: ₹1.2 LPA – ₹9.0 LPA
- Mumbai is primarily known for its financial and entertainment sectors and offers a good number of opportunities in Journalism with competitive salaries.
Bangalore: ₹1.2 LPA – ₹9.0 LPA
- Bangalore offers a growing and dynamic digital media atmosphere, in particular around tech and start ups.
Kolkata: ₹4.5 LPA (average)
- Kolkata has a lot of traditional media and continues to offer for journalists.
Chennai: ₹3 LPA – ₹15 LPA
- Chennai is a fast growing market for journalists filled with many possibilities in print and digital media industries.
Hyderabad: ₹3.7 LPA (average)
- Hyderabad has an expanding media industry, especially around digital journalism.
Pune: ₹6 LPA – ₹7 LPA
- Pune offers reliable opportunities and pays reasonably well in print and online media platforms.
Top News Anchor Salaries in India (2025)
Arnab Goswami (Republic TV)
- Estimated annual salary: ₹12 crore
- As the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of Republic Media Network, Arnab Goswami is one of the best-paid news anchors in the Indian industry.
Sudhir Chaudhary (DD News)
- Estimated annual salary: ₹14 crore
- Sudhir Chaudhary rejected a job with Aaj Tak in 2025 and took a lucrative salary to join
Ravish Kumar (Independent)
- Estimated annual income: ₹3 crore
- After leaving NDTV and starting his own YouTube channel Ravish Kumar continues to earn a significant income.
Rajdeep Sardesai (India Today)
- Estimated annual salary: ₹10 crore
- Rajdeep Sardesai is still a prominent figure in Indian journalism as a consulting editor and anchor for India Today Television.
Barkha Dutt (Mojo Story)
- Estimated annual pay: ₹2.6 crore
- By maintaining her own digital news platform, Mojo Story, Barkha Dutt has continued to be a significant voice in the news media.
Anjana Om Kashyap (Aaj Tak)
- Estimated annual salary: ₹4 crore
- Anjana Om Kashyap is one of the prominent faces in Hindi news as a senior anchor on Aaj Tak.
How to Become a Journalist in India (2025)
A career in journalism can be a very fulfilling choice as it requires strong communication, ethical reporting, and digital skills. Here’s how to get started:
- Get Qualified: Pursue a degree in Journalism or Mass Communication.
- Get Experience: Work as an intern in news agencies to gain real-world skills.
- Build a Portfolio: Writing for your blog, freelance writing, or video, as possible.
- Network: Identify editors, reporters, and media professionals.
Top Journalism Courses at AIMC
Here are the top journalism courses at AIMC in 2025:
Conclusion
Salaries for journalists in India depend on many factors including experience, media type, specialization, and location. Across various journalism positions with different levels of seniority (i.e. entry-level reporter to senior anchor or editor), salaries increase based on job skills, credibility, and market demand. Journalism has many career paths that influence the salary range and type, as digital media has risen in popularity, and as news outlets diversify their platforms and approaches to news, it is an exciting time to be in journalism, there are enticing salaries and career paths available.
