Radio salaries were up slightly in 2012 compared to the year before according to the latest annual survey from the Radio Television Digital News Association and Hofstra University.
Radio news salaries were up 0.8%, not enough to keep up with 2.1% inflation during the same period.
While major market salaries rose, salaries in other markets fell, which also dropped the median paycheck, according to Hofstra University Professor Emeritus Bob Papper. The median radio news director salary for a standalone AM or FM was $35,000 while the median news reporter made $5,000 less. Anchors made more at $45,900 and the median wage for a standalone AM or FM sports anchor was $32,500. Web producers made the most, with a median salary of $51,000.
Overall, group-owned stations usually paid more the independent ones, according to Papper.
Average radio news starting salaries rose just $200 in the last year, and median starting salaries were unchanged.
Valid responses came from 217 radio news directors and general managers representing 575 radio stations.
