The number of journalists employed in the United States fell by at least 2,500 last year, new statistics from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics suggest. Average journalist pay also fell by nearly $3,000 between 2020 and 2021.

According to America’s latest occupational employment and wage statistics, there were 39,080 “news analysts, reporters, and journalists” employed across the US in May 2021. This is down from 41,580 in May 2020, and 44,100 in May 2019. 

The mean annual wage for this category of worker was $63,230 in May 2021, down from $66,000 the year before.