A guide to publishing and journalism salaries

If you’re passionate about breaking the latest news story or you’re interested in why people read the books they do, the Publishing and Journalism sector may be for you. We dive into Publishing and Journalism salaries and what you might expect to earn from a role in this exciting sector.

Journalism salary expectations

It’s said that if you want to be rich, don’t work in journalism. The average salary of a Journalist in the UK is roughly £24,500, but this will differ depending on what part of the UK you work in. There are many different types of journalism to choose from, such as print, digital and broadcast but we’ve created a list of some key roles and how much you can expect to make in each.

Learn more about the skills you need as a Journalist, and what employers look for. 

Entry-level Journalism salaries

As a broadcast Journalist, your role is to report the news across a variety of channels such as  television, radio and digital. The typical salary of a Broadcast Journalist in London is £32,000 and, outside London, this figure goes down to £21,000. You can get into broadcast Journalism in several ways, from a university degree in Broadcast or Multimedia Journalism to an apprenticeship or extensive work experience in the field. Learn more about the top 5 tips for securing your first job in Journalism.

Many entry-level roles as a video producer include researching what your audience wants to see, how you’re going to give it to them and in an engaging way. At entry-level you could look to earn between £24,000 - £26,000. For this role, employers look for dedicated experience in the field, experience with editing software and team working skills.

Read more for writing roles...

Digital Editors are responsible for all the content produced and published on the website. If you’re looking for entry-level roles in digital, some companies may advertise for a digital assistant, with an average salary of £18,000-£21,000. These types of roles are well-suited for graduates or students looking to gain real-life experience in the sector. Media company CNN offers a range of news and digital internships to students and graduates, including digital features, sports broadcasting, health and wellness, and current affairs. 

A staff writer role is one of the most competitive in the field, but it is possible to secure! Reporters can be found in the fast-paced newsroom, talking to sources, researching and writing about breaking or local news. Staff writers often work for digital publications and magazines, rather than newspapers. Responsibilities include writing features, reviews and news reports. The average salary in London is £24,000, which decreases to £16,000-£20,000 in other UK cities. 

Mid-level/senior journalism salaries

You can often find digital editors planning editorials and content, brainstorming new column ideas or writing a story of their own. Digital Editors earn an average salary of £24,000. Roles as a digital assistant can put you in good stead for specific area editors, such as features editor, lifestyle editor, etc. These have a higher pay rate of around £34,000 - £40,000. Learn more about what publishing and journalism jobs there are, what they’re looking for, and what skills you need.

Not many companies will advertise for staff writer roles - it’s about who you know - contacts are everything. However, there are more advertisements for reporters so you could move over to staff writing after gaining some transferable skills as a reporter. Unless you move up the ranks to an editorial role or head of a certain desk, your salary is unlikely to change dramatically. The head of a specific area or department can make roughly £31,000 - £38,000, depending on the company and job location.

You can be in front or behind the camera

Senior Broadcast Journalists can make up to £80,000, especially if you work at one of the top organisations like the BBC, ITV, or Channel 4. Learn about the leading graduate employers in Journalism and Publishing.

Video producers and researchers create videos for news companies and often manage creative direction, writing scripts, deadlines and communicating with the team. The average salary in London is £29,000. After you’ve gained enough experience at entry or mid-level, it’s possible for video producers to become freelance. But, if you prefer to have a fixed income, that might not be for you. 

Publishing salary expectations

Publishing refers to the creation, distribution and sales of printed goods, such as magazines, newspapers and journals. Some example areas of book publishing include:

• Educational
• Fiction
• Scientific, technical or medical
• Academic
• Professional e.g. finance and law

Entry-level publishing salaries

The average salary of a publishing sales representative is between £24,000 - £35,000, this is down to the company you work for and the type of goods you publish. Learn more about how to make it in publishing reading about how fellow Bright Network member, Sarah Lansbury climbed the publishing ladder.

Similar to an editorial role in Journalism, an editorial assistant in a publishing role would include a lot of reading, working with creatives, editorial editing, updating spreadsheets, and liaising with the marketing staff. The salary of an Editorial assistant in publishing is from £20,000 - £24,000. 

Publishing is more than reading books

Junior designers or design assistants are responsible for producing creative ideas, fitting a brief set by senior staff or clients, creating mood boards, or seeking inspiration from past product designs and sharing your ideas with other team members. As a junior designer or assistant, your salary will sit around £22,000.

As a publicity and marketing assistant, your role is to support the team and their needs to help campaigns run effectively and smoothly. For this role, you’ll need an open and creative mind, passion for your area of interest, and the ability to work under pressure and still deliver high-quality work. Your salary would sit around the £23,000 to £25,000 mark and depends on the company and location.

Mid-level/senior publishing salaries

Publishing sales managers can look to make up to £54,000 but, again, this depends on your company and your location of work - remember, roles located in London are generally higher-paying because of the cost of living. 

Moving up from a publishing or marketing assistant to  publicity/marketing executive would require you to demonstrate that you have experience in running your campaigns, managing every aspect, and creating effective ideas that will draw positive attention to the product or business. As an executive, your salary would range from £27,000 to £32,000. Learn more about professional marketing qualifications. 

If you have 1-3 years experience as a junior designer or assistant and you can show your experience, you could apply for roles as a designer. Designers can earn between £28,000 - £34,000, depending on who you worked for and the clients you’re designing for. The more well-known clients may pay extra for your work!

Moving up to assistant editor from an editorial assistant role can see your salary increase between £33,000 to £48,000 depending on the company, location of work, and subject area. As a step up from editorial assistant, an assistant editor will need relevant work experience in a similar field of interest, demonstrated creative thinking, and knowledge of the subject matter you want to work in.

Learn what to expect at a literacy agency.