8 of the Best Types of Journalist Jobs in 2026

Discover some great types of Journalist jobs that are hiring now.

High Paying Journalist Jobs

• Freelance Journalist

  Salary range: $36,000 - $79,000

  The primary qualifications for working as a freelance journalist are a bachelor's degree in a relevant field and several years of experience in journalism. Many freelance journalists start as early as high school, writing and submitting articles to a school newspaper or other newcomer-friendly publications. Most employers want to see a portfolio of published content. Fulfilling your duties and responsibilities as a freelance journalist may require unusual work hours, a significant amount of travel, and the ability to produce content on tight deadlines. Experience is the key consideration for many employers, so the more published content you have, the more likely you are to stand out from other applicants.

• Journalist Internship

  Salary range: $36,000 - $79,000

  An Internship is a position within your desired field that pays little or no money but offers you the opportunity to gain real-world experience. This may set you apart for your future job search. Generally, Internships are almost expected by employers on an entry-level candidate’s resume. You are much more of an asset to an employer if you have some work experience.

• Journalist Entry Level

  Salary range: $36,000 - $79,000

  An entry-level journalist conducts research, collects information, and writes news articles for a news organization. As an entry-level journalist, you write articles on topics given to you by an editor or supervisor. Your responsibilities include interviewing persons of interest, obtaining quotes, fact-checking, and keeping up with your deadlines. Your other duties involve traveling to obtain stories and acquiring background information via digital and physical sources. You can also report on location for radio and TV stations or provide research to reporters on a freelance basis. Digital platforms frequently hire entry-level journalists. You typically work from home to complete research and submit articles.

• Apprentice Journalist

  Salary range: $36,000 - $79,000

  Apprentice Journalist is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Apprentice Journalist jobs pay between $36,000 (25th percentile) and $79,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Apprentice Journalist job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Full Time Journalist

  Salary range: $36,000 - $79,000

  Full-time employment hours are generally determined by the employer. There is no single universal definition; however, various laws and policies govern different types of eligibility and statuses. For example, the Fair Labor Standards Act does not define full-time employment but does require overtime pay after 40 hours of work in a workweek for non-exempt employees. The Affordable Care Act, in determining Applicable Large Employers, defines full-time employees as those working an average of at least 30 hours per week, or 130 hours a month. The H-1B Visa Program defines full-time as 40 hours per week, normally, and in no event would less than 35 hours per week be considered to be full-time employment. In practice, full-time employment is typically between 32 and 40 hours per week.

• Senior Journalist

  Salary range: $36,000 - $73,000

  Senior Journalist is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Senior Journalist jobs pay between $36,000 (25th percentile) and $73,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Senior Journalist job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Junior Journalist

  Salary range: $36,000 - $57,500

  Junior Journalist is a typical job search query. Most salaries for Junior Journalist jobs pay between $36,000 (25th percentile) and $57,500 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Junior Journalist job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Trainee Journalist

  Salary range: $32,000 - $50,500

  The requirements to get a trainee job vary by industry. In some, such as architecture or accounting, you must graduate from an accredited college program before you can begin work. Other industries, such as retail, manufacturing, or telemarketing, may require only a high school diploma or a GED certificate to begin a training program. No matter what profession you are interested in, you should have strong verbal and written communication and an interest in continuing the career.