Journalist

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Career Insights

Full Time Average
Weekly Wage
$1,531 to $1,900
Earnings for full-time employees before tax.

The ranges are for all ages and levels of experience, so they cannot be used to determine what an individual worker will actually earn.
Full Time/Part Time
Split
82%18%
This shows the proportion of workers who work part-time.

The information uses the Australian Bureau of Statistics definition of part-time, which is working less than 35 hours per week.
Currently Employed
Workers
22,600
The total number of people employed in Australia in November 2025 for this occupation.

It includes both full-time and part-time workers.
Future Job Openings
Next Five Years
< 5k
An estimate of the number of job opportunities likely to be available over the next five years.

It does not provide any guidance about the number of job seekers for this occupation.
Current
Unemployment
Average
The unemployment rate is the number of unemployed people as a percentage of the labour force (employed plus unemployed).
An occupation may have high unemployment but may also be experiencing shortages for particular skills.
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Career Details

What does it take to become a Journalist?

Journalists write and edit news reports, commentaries and features for newspapers, magazines, electronic media and radio or television stations. They aim to present stories in a clear, engaging style.

A journalist may:

attend press launches, courts, council meetings and other events
interview people by phone or in person
respond to tip-offs, calls and news releases
record notes in shorthand or on tape and write stories up on computer

Besides the pressures of working to deadline and getting stories out ahead of the competition, journalists must keep their stories balanced, fair and lawful.

Long and unpredictable hours are common in journalism. Journalists generally work 39 hours a week, but they may work shifts including early starts, nights and some weekends. They have to travel to where the news is, and may sometimes work outdoors.

Find out more

Check out the Good Universities Guide for more information on careers and the courses that can help get you there.

Link - Journalist