Foreign Correspondents

Salaries vary greatly depending on the publication, network, or station, and the cost of living and tax structure in various places around the world where foreign correspondents work. Generally, salaries range from $65,000 to about $80,000 for those with 10 or more years of experience. Some media will pay for living expenses, such as the costs of a home, school for the reporter's children, and a car.

The average annual salary for foreign correspondents was $104,548 in 2024, according to ZipRecruiter.com. Earnings ranged from $42,500 to $147,000 or more.

News analysts, reporters, and journalists earned a median annual salary of $57,500 in May 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The lowest paid 10 percent earned $31,550 or less, and the highest paid 10 percent earned $160,360 or more. News analysts, reporters, and journalists who were employed by newspaper, periodical, book, and directory publishers earned average salaries of $56,090, while those who were employed by radio and television broadcasting stations earned $99,130.

Benefits for salaried foreign correspondents depend on the employer; however, they usually include such items as health insurance and retirement or 401(k) plans. Some media will pay for living expenses, such as the costs of a home, school for the reporter’s children, and a car. Self-employed correspondents must provide their own benefits.