If you're interested in pursuing a career in journalism, a bachelor's degree in journalism may not always be the best option.

The type of journalism or communication job you’re interested in pursuing will determine the specific degree or concentration you should pursue. 

Is journalism a popular major?

Journalism is a diverse field with many exciting career paths, making it a popular degree. Many colleges and universities offer a BA or BS in journalism or a related area of study, such as mass communication.

Communications and journalism consistently rank among the top 10 most popular majors. 

Keep in mind that these lists refer to the popularity of majors across colleges and universities in the United States. A major’s popularity may differ at individual schools depending on the range of their offerings or the strength of their programs.

What degrees do most journalists have?

Most journalism jobs require some type of journalism degree, which includes instruction in, among other things, conducting interviews, news writing, and media ethics.

Some journalism students also may get a degree in a related field, such as communications or English. 

While a bachelor’s degree is usually best, an associate degree or degree in another field may work if you have newsroom experience. Some journalists also may pursue a master’s degree that specializes in a field such as investigative journalism, which will delve more deeply into areas such as data journalism and media law and ethics. You also may consider an advanced degree — such as a master’s in strategic communication or PhD in mass communication — if you want to teach.

What type of journalism pays the most?

This is a fair question: Even the most passionate journalists probably aren’t working for free. But how much do journalists make?

Below you’ll find salary ranges for jobs commonly pursued by journalism majors. While traditional roles like reporters, editors, photographers, and proofreaders are well represented, the data highlights something many students may not expect: a journalism degree opens doors far beyond the newsroom. Today’s programs focus on versatile, in-demand skills — writing, research, storytelling, digital media, and strategic communication — that prepare graduates for a wide range of careers, including public relations, mass communication, fundraising, and digital communication roles across many industries.

The median salary is there, but we also want to show what an income looks like at certain percentiles (10th, 50th, 90th). The lower points give you an idea of where entry-level jobs might land, or what you might be paid in certain geographic regions that aren’t major media markets. (It’s not impossible to make six figures right out of college, but it’s hardly common.)

Salaries for Journalism Jobs

Salaries for Media and Mass Communication Jobs

NA = Not provided in dataset. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024

Based on the figures above, you might look beyond traditional journalism and turn your focus toward various occupations that can be attained with a journalism degree.

Certain positions in digital communication, public relations, and advertising might bump you up a tax bracket, especially at the management level. Advertising managers and public relations managers see average salaries near $150K, for example; digital communication managers are not far behind that mark.

In terms of traditional journalism jobs, the average salary data above point to news analysts/reporters/journalists as the most lucrative job category — but this comes with a caveat. While that category sees an average salary just over $100K, it’s worth noting that the median average salary — the dollar amount at which there is an equal number of people earning more and less than that — is just over $60K. That would indicate that the top earners in the category are seriously skewing the average salary figure. 

What majors go well with journalism?

There are many majors that can complement or strengthen a journalism degree.

In today’s digital age, for example, journalists and communications professionals who have advanced skills in data analysis and coding and who can develop digital content are in high demand. For this reason, a double major in journalism or communications and computer or data science can be powerful. 

In fact, getting a double major may make sense to help you break into the type of journalism job that you want or potentially lead to more job opportunities or higher earnings.

Here are 10 common double majors that students working toward journalism or communications pursue: