What do you make?

[MidwestSportsGuy]

Obviously a touchy subject, but I'm really curious as to what people make in this business. Reporter, editor, designer, etc. Just want to gauge what the pay scale is. Paper circ. would be helpful.

 

[silvercharm]

Love.

 

[Smasher_Sloan]

Brownies.

 

[HejiraHenry]

A damn mess. But then I clean it up.

(No, most of us aren't going to answer a question like that. I'm outed enough that I ain't going there.)

That said, most of us would agree that our lives would be infinitely better "if we only made $10,000 more."

 

[spikechiquet]

DOOTY!
(making some now in fact)

 

[MidwestSportsGuy]

Look, I get it ... I'm naive. I was curious, is all. If it's a horrendous question, just kill the thread.

 

[spikechiquet]

Look, I get it ... I'm naive. I was curious, is all. If it's a horrendous question, just kill the thread.

Joking aside, you'd be better off with a poll.

 

[schiezainc]

**** it. I'll jump in.
When I started in sports at a weekly chain of small newspapers in Rhode Island, I made $23K. I managed to get that bumped up to $26K over the course of four years in the position before moving to take a news editor position for $31K per year.
I left said newspaper to take an online gig in Rhode Island's capital city and was making $40K per year but it was an independent contractor position so I'll have to pay more in taxes at the end of the year.

 

[BillySixty]

Entry-level preps reporter in early to mid 2000s: 27K
Sports editor 10K circ paper mid 2000: 33K
Sports editor 25K circ paper starting late 2000: 40K

All in the same region, all in similar-sized towns.

I will say this: Knowing how to diversify (write, design, web) led to better-paying jobs, and also saved me from staff cuts.

 

[MidwestSportsGuy]

Interesting, I was writing at an 18K paper for about 28K. Became the SE and the salary was about 34K.

 

[ColdCat]

Brownies.

"special" brownies?

 

[Shoeless Joe]

I'll give. What I make now is public record, so what I used to shouldn't matter.
I worked at a 16K daily for 19 years and was assistant sports editor. I think the most I ever made was $28K (50-55 hours a week). I made more in year 15 than I did 19 because of pay cuts.
I got out, went back to school, and the starting salary for a first year teacher with a masters is $35,386+coaching supplement.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

Started in sports close to 15 years ago making $19,500 at a daily.
Left to be ASE (at another daily) for $25,500 about three years later. Left sports (still at same paper) about eight years ago and I make less $31,000 a year.

 

[Rhody31]

I was making 12.50 an hour and was the highest paid reporter at my paper until I was fired at the end of January.
I've been looking for jobs outside the biz and the pay they're offering is amazing in comparison. If I made 50 K a year, I wouldn't know what to do with all that money except buy hookers and booze.

 

[JackReacher]

Christ, Rhody. That is gross. Good luck in your search.

 

[Riptide]

I started at $12K and wound up at $63K.
Then the Turk came knocking at the door.

 

[Ace]

Christ, Rhody. That is gross. Good luck in your search.

For hookers and booze?

 

[JackReacher]

Christ, Rhody. That is gross. Good luck in your search.

For hookers and booze?

Of course!

 

[Drip]

I started at $12K and wound up at $63K.
Then the Turk came knocking at the door.

And you answered?

 

[Captain Obvious]

I was making 12.50 an hour and was the highest paid reporter at my paper until I was fired at the end of January.
I've been looking for jobs outside the biz and the pay they're offering is amazing in comparison. If I made 50 K a year, I wouldn't know what to do with all that money except buy hookers and booze.

The problem is getting those jobs.