Salary of Journalists in India 2025: Average Salary per month, Perks and Allowances
Wondering what salary a career in Journalism can get you? This article will provide you with information on the annual and monthly journalist salary in India. It also covers the salary of journalists in India as per the organization, specialization, post, etc.
Salary of Journalists in India 2025
Salary of Journalists in India 2025: Job opportunities in the fields of mass media and journalism have increased exponentially over the last few years. This can be credited to the digital transformation of media and the rise of internet consumption. Journalism was earlier limited mainly to print, film & TV media. Now, it has made its way to digital media as well. New digital platforms have allowed new media channels and brand names in the field of journalism. Big names (media houses, channels, newspapers, brands) that have been around forever have also entered the digital space and have websites, multiple social media handles, and a strong online presence overall.
The opportunities for content creation platforms, news websites, blogs, and independent journalism are only increasing every day. Due to this rise, high school graduates and college graduates are keen on pursuing journalism. However, there are certain questions about the field that pop into their heads. Before committing to it, they need to know what the journalist's salary in India is, how much a reporter earns in a year, what the job security is like, what the challenges are in jobs for journalists, etc. In this article, we will address some of these questions. Learn more in the article below.
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- What is the Indian Journalist's Salary?
- Journalist Salary based on Experience
- Journalist Salary based on Specialisation
- Journalist Salary based on Designation
- Journalist Salary based on Qualification
- Journalist Salary based on Media Organisation
- Journalist Salary based on City
- Salary of Top Journalists in India
- How to Become a Journalist in India?
- Scope of Journalism in India
- Benefits and Perks for Journalists Beyond Salary
- Top Journalism Courses in India
- Top Journalist Recruiters in India
What is the Indian Journalist's Salary?
The salary of a journalist is based on various factors. These factors include their education, their experience during internships, former jobs, etc. If the student has qualified from a top mass communication college in India, the chances of getting a good package from the get-go are higher. Where they intern and go on to work also adds value to their work profile. Considering these facts, the starting average salary of a journalist can be anywhere between INR 20,000 and 25,000.
It can be said that the starting salary of journalists per annum can be around INR 3 lacs to 5 lacs. The salary of journalists keeps increasing with experience and skills. Some of the most famous journalists in India, like Arnab Goswami, Ravish Kumar, and Sudhir Choudhary, earn crores apart from the various perks they receive, such as house accommodation, chauffeured cars, various other facilities like medical benefits and reimbursements.
Also Read: List of Journalism Awards in India
Journalist Salary based on Experience
Experience matters the most when it comes to the salary of a journalist. Even though an applicant has every required qualification, with no experience, their salary can be lower than the others. Check out the journalist average salary in India here:
| Experience (Years) | Average Salary per Annum (INR) | Average Salary per Month (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 - 2 years | INR 2-2.5 Lacs | INR 19-19.5k |
| 2 - 5 years | INR 3-3.20 Lacs | INR 26-27k |
| 5 - 10 years | INR 4.50-4.70 Lacs | INR 38-39k |
| 10 - 15 years | INR 5-5.60 Lacs | INR 46-47k |
| 15 - 20 years | INR 5.80-5.90 Lacs | INR 48-49k |
| 20+ years | INR 6.30-6.40 Lacs | INR 50-55k |
Journalist Salary based on Specialisation
The average salaries of different kinds of journalists are mentioned in the table below.
| Specializations |
Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| Investigative Journalist |
INR 5-6 Lacs |
| Broadcast Journalist |
INR 5-6 Lacs |
| Print Journalist |
INR 4-5 Lacs |
| Crime Journalist |
INR 6-7 Lacs |
| Sports Journalist |
INR 6-7 Lacs |
| Lifestyle Journalist |
INR 6-7 Lacs |
| Photojournalist |
INR 4-5 Lacs |
| Political Journalist |
INR 6-7 Lacs |
Journalist Salary based on Designation
Salaries of journalists based on their position are provided in the table below.
| Designations |
Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| Editor in Chief |
INR 15-17 Lacs |
| Managing Director |
INR 8-9 Lacs |
| Assignment Editor |
INR 4-5 Lacs |
| News Editors |
INR 6-7 Lacs |
| Visual Production Specialist |
INR 6-7 Lacs |
| Sub Editors |
INR 4-5 Lacs |
Journalist Salary based on Qualification
The salaries of journalists based on their educational qualifications are mentioned below.
| Qualifications |
Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| Postgraduate Courses |
INR 8-9 Lacs |
| Certificate Courses |
INR 3-4 Lacs |
| Diploma Courses |
INR 4-5 Lacs |
| Undergraduate Courses |
INR 6-7 Lacs |
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To become a journalist, once you have qualified in the 10+2 exam you must complete your graduation and apply for any of the popular mass communication exams in India such as the FTII JET exam, JMI Entrance exam, IIMC Entrance exam or the XIC OET exam and crack it.
There is nothing like a low salary or a high salary for a journalist. However, journalism interns earn much less as compared to experienced ones. Interns get a stipend that is below INR 10,000 in many places.
Journalist Salary based on Media Organisation
Different companies and organisations have different reputations and statuses in the industry. The average annual packages offered by some popular names are provided below.
| Name of the Company |
Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| Dainik Jagran |
INR 8-10 Lacs |
| India Today Group |
INR 14-15 Lacs |
| Times of India |
INR 12-13 Lacs |
| ABP News Network |
INR 11-13 Lacs |
| Dainik Bhaskar Group |
INR 9-10 Lacs |
| Zee Media |
INR 12-13 Lacs |
| HT Media |
INR 14-15 Lacs |
Journalist Salary based on City
The same goes for different cities. However, the determining factors here are population, the tier of the city, the demand for journalists, etc. The salaries of experienced journalists in some cities are provided in the table below.
| Name of the Cities |
Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Delhi |
INR 15 Lacs |
| Bengaluru |
INR 15 Lacs |
| Mumbai |
INR 15 Lacs |
| Chennai |
INR 10 Lacs |
| Kolkata |
INR 8 Lacs |
| Pune |
INR 6-7 Lacs |
| Noida |
INR 6-7 Lacs |
The total marks of IIMC entrance exam is:
| Course | Marks |
|---|---|
| PG Diplomas in Hindi Journalism, English Journalism, Radio & TV Journalism, Digital Media, Advertising & Public Relations | 300 marks |
| Regional Language PG Diploma Journalism courses (Odia, Marathi, Malayalam and Urdu) | 100 marks |
FTII JET is conducted annually or once a year in 28 cities across the country.
The IIMC Entrance Exam is conducted only once in a year. The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) conducts the IIMC Entrance Exam for admission in PG Diploma courses in Odia, Marathi, Malayalam and Urdu Journalism. Candidates planning to pursue PG Diploma in Radio and TV Journalism (Bilingual- English & Hindi), PG Diploma in Hindi Journalism, PG Diploma in Advertising and Public Relations (Bilingual- English & Hindi), PG Diploma in English Journalism and PG Diploma in Digital Media are required to appear in CUET PG, which is also conducted once in a year.
Salary of Top Journalists in India
The speculated salaries of some popular journalists in the country are mentioned below.
| Top Journalists |
Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| Ravish Kumar |
4 Crore |
| Nidhi Razdan |
3 Crore |
| Arnab Goswami |
12 Crore |
| Barkha Dutt |
2.64 Crore |
| Pranoy Roy |
7.8 Crore |
| Rajdeep Sardesai |
5 Crore |
Disclaimer - The numbers mentioned in the above table are estimates gathered by salary aggregators. The actual numbers can vary. This is just to give an idea to candidates about the salary of journalists.
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How to Become a Journalist in India?
To become a journalist in India after 12th, students first need to pass high school with good marks and complete graduation. The ideal subjects to study to build a good mass communication base are Political Science, History, Arts, etc. Apart from these, students who want to enter into technical aspects of journalism, like video production, video editing, and photography, can pursue short-term diploma and certificate courses designed specifically for these skills. A prior knowledge of basic science also comes in handy for technical jobs. Undergraduate and postgraduate courses in journalism, like BJMC and MJMC, are offered by numerous universities and colleges across the country. Some popular entrance exams through which you can enrol on a journalism course are listed below.
Scope of Journalism in India
There is a great scope of Journalism in India. The possibilities are endless for skilled journalists, as there are a vast number of opportunities for them in India. Journalists can either join print media, digital or TV media. They can work as reporters, anchors, video editors, photographers, writers, columnists, cartoonists, feature writers, editors, investigative journalists, or freelancers in any of these professions. Again, the starting salaries may not be that impressive, but with experience, making connections along the way, and some popularity, journalists can earn a handsome amount.
Benefits and Perks for Journalists Beyond Salary
There can be several benefits that journalists can get from the organisations they work for. Since journalism is a mix of desk work and fieldwork, companies often arrange or pay for work-related travel, stays, and even meals. The terms and conditions for these allowances may differ from company to company. Other than that, journalism also opens numerous doors for professionals. There is press and media access for notable events, etc. Networking is another perk of working in this field. This networking is not only limited to media professionals but also the government, public administration, advertisers, law enforcement, celebrities and even citizens. Journalism also provides room for immense personal growth as it enhances research skills, communication skills, people skills, and the technical aspect of journalistic productions (digital content, publications, television and radio shows, podcasts, etc.).
Top Journalism Courses in India
Below are some top undergraduate and postgraduate journalism courses in India that can help you make a career in journalism and get a good salary:
| UG Journalism Courses |
PG Journalism Courses |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Journalism | MA Journalism |
| BA Convergent Journalism | MA Convergent Journalism |
| Bachelor of Media Science | PG Diploma Course in Journalism (English) and (Hindi) |
| BSc in Mass Communication and Journalism | PG Diploma in Print and Broadcast Journalism |
| BA English with Journalism | MA Broadcast Journalism |
| BA (Hons) Magazine Journalism | MSc in Television and Film Production |
| BA (Hons) Photojournalism | MA in Photojournalism |
Top Journalist Recruiters in India
Check out the table below to know the list of top companies or media houses in India hiring journalists:
| Top Journalist Recruiters in India | ||
|---|---|---|
| The Times Group | The Hindustan Times Group | Press Trust of India (PTI) |
| India Today Group | Network18 | ABP Group |
| Zee Media Corporation | NDTV | India TV News |
| Dainik Bhaskar Group | Jagran Prakashan | Times Network |
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There is a growing demand for skilled journalists in various media outlets which makes it a rewarding and challenging career. Journalists in India have many opportunities, particularly in areas such as digital media, investigative journalism, and specialised beats like sports, entertainment, and technology.