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Investigative Reporter Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Tribune Media

Investigative Reporter

Austin, TX

Investigative Reporter - KXAN Investigates (Austin, TX) Want to produce journalism that makes a difference? Join KXAN Investigates, Texas' largest and most respected investigative team and one of the ...

WOWK-TV

Investigative Reporter

Austin, TX · On-site

Investigative Reporter - KXAN Investigates (Austin, TX) Want to produce journalism that makes a difference? Join KXAN Investigates, Texas' largest and most respected investigative team and one of the ...

Nexstar Media Group

Investigative Reporter

Austin, TX · On-site

Investigative Reporter - KXAN Investigates (Austin, TX) Want to produce journalism that makes a difference? Join KXAN Investigates, Texas' largest and most respected investigative team and one of the ...

Digital Remedy

Investigative Reporter

Syracuse, NY

$21.65 - $26.45/hr

- I-TEAM INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER The CNY Central News Team is seeking to "rebuild" it's award-winning I-Team Investigative Reporting Division after more than three years of significant success and ...

Digital Remedy

Investigative Reporter

Axtell, NE

KHGI seeks an enterprising and aggressive reporter to join our team of investigative and consumer reporters. We are looking for someone with a clear understanding of how to dig for a story, research ...

Hearst

Investigative Reporter

Houston, TX

The Houston Chronicle is looking to hire an investigative reporter to join our award-winning investigations team, the largest team of its kind in Texas. This is a chance for an ambitious ...

Hearst

Investigative Reporter

Houston, TX

The Houston Chronicle is looking to hire an investigative reporter to join our award-winning investigations team, the largest team of its kind in Texas. This is a chance for an ambitious ...

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Investigative Reporter information

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How much do investigative reporter jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for investigative reporter in the United States is $23.12, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.27 and $28.12 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an investigative reporter, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Investigative Reporter, you need strong research, analytical, and writing skills, typically supported by a degree in journalism or communications. Familiarity with data analysis tools, public records databases, and digital research platforms is often required. Persistence, ethical judgment, and effective interpersonal communication distinguish outstanding investigative journalists. These skills and qualities are crucial for uncovering important stories, ensuring accuracy, and building trust with sources and audiences.

What does an investigative reporter do?

An investigative reporter conducts interviews or research to help build their story. This type of journalism often focuses on one topic at a time and may require travel and irregular hours. In this career, you investigate multiple elements of a story and find various source options to obtain information. You might specialize in a niche, such as crime, politics, or even doing consumer research to see if products meet people’s expectations. Some reporters take photos to accompany their stories. You need basic computer skills to type up and format your story for publishing.

What are some common challenges investigative reporters face when working on complex stories?

Investigative reporters often encounter obstacles such as gaining access to reliable sources, verifying information from multiple perspectives, and handling legal or ethical considerations around sensitive topics. The process can be time-consuming and demanding, requiring persistence, discretion, and adaptability. Collaboration with editors, legal teams, and sometimes data analysts is key to ensuring stories are accurate, fair, and impactful while maintaining source confidentiality and journalistic integrity.

What is the difference between Investigative Reporter vs News Reporter?

AspectInvestigative ReporterNews Reporter
CredentialsJournalism degree, experience in investigative workJournalism degree, general reporting experience
Work EnvironmentResearch-heavy, often in offices or field investigationsOn-location, live reporting, newsroom
Employer & IndustryNews organizations, media outletsNews organizations, media outlets
Search & Comparison IntentInvestigative work, in-depth storiesBreaking news, daily reporting

Investigative reporters focus on in-depth research and uncovering hidden stories, often requiring specialized skills and longer-term projects. News reporters cover daily news events, providing timely updates. While both roles work within journalism and media industries, investigative reporters typically engage in more detailed, long-term investigations compared to the fast-paced nature of news reporting.

What does an investigative reporter do?

An Investigative Reporter is a journalist who specializes in uncovering information that is often hidden from the public. They conduct in-depth research, analyze data, interview sources, and follow leads to expose wrongdoing, corruption, or significant social issues. Their work often takes weeks or months and can involve complex subjects such as government, business, or crime. The goal is to inform the public and hold powerful individuals or organizations accountable.
More about Investigative Reporter jobs
What cities are hiring for Investigative Reporter jobs? Cities with the most Investigative Reporter job openings:
Who are the top companies hiring for Investigative Reporter jobs? The top employers for Investigative Reporter jobs are:
What states have the most Investigative Reporter jobs? States with the most job openings for Investigative Reporter jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Investigative Reporter jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Investigative Reporter jobs are:
What are popular job titles related to Investigative Reporter jobs? For Investigative Reporter jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Investigative Reporter jobs near you
Infographic showing various Investigative Reporter job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 4% Internship, 81% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $48,090 per year, or $23.1 per hour.

Investigative Reporter

Tribune Media

Austin, TX

Full-time

Re-posted 21 days ago

Job description

Investigative Reporter - KXAN Investigates (Austin, TX)

Want to produce journalism that makes a difference?

Join KXAN Investigates, Texas' largest and most respected investigative team and one of the premier local investigative units in the country. Our award-winning journalists have changed laws, exposed corruption, uncovered life-threatening safety failures and held powerful institutions accountable.

We're looking for an experienced Investigative Reporter who can uncover original stories, develop sources, analyze records and data and deliver impactful journalism across multiple platforms. This is not an entry-level position. The ideal candidate has a strong investigative track record and is ready to collaborate with a nationally recognized team.

What You'll Do

  • Develop and report original investigative and accountability-driven stories.
  • File public records requests, analyze documents and data and build sources.
  • Produce compelling investigations for television, digital, streaming and social platforms.
  • Collaborate on major team projects, innovative initiatives and longform investigations.
  • Turn breaking news into deeper accountability reporting.
  • Present stories on-air with confidence and credibility.

What You'll Bring

  • 5+ years of professional reporting experience, including at least 2 years dedicated to investigative reporting.
  • Proven experience producing impactful investigative and accountability journalism.
  • Experience with public information requests, background research, Excel and basic data analysis.
  • Strong writing, storytelling and reporting skills, with impeccable accuracy, uncompromising ethics and sound news judgment.
  • A passion for multi-platform storytelling and audience engagement.
  • Relentless curiosity, strong ethics and a collaborative spirit.

A bachelor's degree in journalism is preferred. Candidates must submit a resume and links to investigative work.

Why KXAN?

KXAN's "in-depth, investigative" brand isn't a slogan - it's who we are. You'll work alongside some of the most accomplished investigative journalists in the business, with the time, resources and support to pursue stories that matter.

If you're an experienced investigator ready to produce journalism that drives real change, we want to hear from you. Explore our work, and learn more about the team.

Apply