The INN Member Compensation Study benchmarks salary and benefits data for jobs at newsrooms across the INN Network.

INN’s third survey, released in October 2024, collected input from more than 30% of INN Network newsrooms. The study is based on data collected and reported for the following 21 jobs: Executive Director/CEO, COO/Director of Operations, Chief Financial Officer, Editor-in-chief/Executive Editor, Development Director/Chief Development Officer, Major Gifts Officer, Digital Producer, Managing Editor, Engagement Editor, Editor, Beat Reporter, Reporter, Data Journalist, Visual Journalist, Membership Manager, Intern, Audience Manager, Communications Manager, Producer, Product Manager, Project Manager.

This survey was conducted by Pearl Meyer, a nationally recognized advisor to Boards and senior management teams in the areas of compensation strategy and design.

Highlights

• $86,703: the average base reporter salary, slightly up from $82,943 in 2022.
• $139,913: the average Executive Director/CEO salary 
• 60%: the percentage of news organizations that offer a retirement plan, roughly unchanged since 2022. 
• 66%: the percentage of outlets that offer employees medical coverage, reflecting a decline from the 72% of outlets in 2022. 
• 95%: the percentage of outlets that allow staff to work from home — reflecting a decrease from 2022, when 99% of survey study participants reported offering remote work.

Cost for INN member organizations
INN members wishing to purchase this study should log into the Member Portal with their primary member profile and visit the INN shop.

• Members that participated in the compensation study: Free
• Budgets under $50,000: $75.00
• Budgets $50,000 to $249,999: $250.00
• Budgets $250,000 to $499,999: $350.00
• Budgets $500,000 to $1,999,999: $450.00
• Budget $2,000,000 and up: $550.00

Cost for the public
Anyone who is not part of the INN Network may purchase the Compensation Study for $1,000; please email Jordan Smith at jordan@inn.org for payment options.