Robin Roberts of ABC's Good Morning America is widely cited by industry trackers like Forbes as the highest-paid female news anchor, earning an estimated $18 million to $20 million annually. Other top earners include MSNBC's prime-time anchor Rachel Maddow and NBC's Today co-host Savannah Guthrie.
Who is the highest-paid female news anchor on television?
Megyn Kelly's Move To NBC Will Likely Make Her The World's Highest-Paid Female News Anchor. ByMadeline Berg, Former Staff. I cover the intersection of Hollywood and money.
Scott Mills, Greg James, and Stephen Nolan lead the BBC Annual Report Salary List for the 2025–26 financial year. Commercial-arm or independent production talent (like Claudia Winkleman or Graham Norton) are excluded.
Public opinion on popular or attractive news anchors often highlights figures like Courtney Friel, Gio Benitez, and Dana Perino, though attractiveness remains entirely subjective and varies widely across global media networks.
What is the average salary for female CNN anchors?
While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $87,500 and as low as $25,500, the majority of Cnn Anchor salaries currently range between $32,500 (25th percentile) to $46,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $59,500 annually across the United States.
Sean Hannity of Fox News is widely reported as the highest-paid news and political commentator in the world, earning an estimated $40 million to $45 million annually. Rachel Maddow of MSNBC follows closely as one of the highest-earning broadcast news anchors, pulling in roughly $30 million a year.
Why do so many female news anchors wear sleeveless dresses?
Female newscasters often wear sleeveless dresses due to prevailing modern fashion trends, the pressure to maintain a polished and fit on-air aesthetic, and practical considerations like warm studio lighting.
The viral curvy news anchor is Carissa Codel, a morning news anchor for KOLR 10 (Ozarks First) in Missouri. She went viral on social media for reading rude body-shaming viewer comments aloud using her serious, deadpan broadcast voice.
Claudia Winkleman does not have a publicly disclosed fixed salary, but company accounts for her firm, Little Owl Productions, showed she took home around £2 million in the year leading up to April 2025.
The highest-paid women on television include Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, who each earn around $2 million per episode for The Morning Show, while multi-year earnings leaders like Sofia Vergara and daytime figures like Judge Judy Sheindlin have historically topped annual income lists through syndication, judging, and major endorsements.
While public opinion varies, national tracking polls from The Hollywood Reporter / Morning Consult consistently rank David Muir, Lester Holt, and Anderson Cooper among the most trusted and favored news anchors in America. Because "love" for a news anchor is usually measured by viewer trust and long-term popularity, these prominent figures lead traditional broadcast and cable news.
The typical salary for a news presenter in the UK ranges from £42,000 to £75,000 per year, but high-profile national anchors can earn anywhere from £200,000 to over £400,000.
You are likely thinking of Carissa Codel, the viral morning news anchor and reporter for KOLR 10 and FOX 49 in Springfield, Missouri, who gained massive online fame for reading mean viewer comments in her professional broadcast voice.
High-profile firings or departures of female news anchors include Lisa LaFlamme from CTV News, Anne Curry from NBC News, and Brittney Noble from WLBT. ·Nicki Swift
Barbara Walters is widely regarded as the most famous female broadcast journalist and news reporter in history, alongside global icons like Christiane Amanpour and Diane Sawyer.
Journalist Shea Allen was fired from WAAY-TV in Huntsville, Alabama, after detailing in a personal blog that she occasionally reported without a bra. Her 2013 blog post, titled "Confessions of a Red-Headed Reporter," listed ten controversial professional admissions, which included "I've gone bra-less during a live broadcast and no one was the wiser". ·NBC News
When Brian Williams was caught in his lie on the NBC Nightly News, the media went into a frenzy. Shortly after, Deborah Turness, NBC president, suspended Williams for six months. Many questioned his credibility as a reporter, and NBC started an investigation into the accuracy of Williams' work.
Who was the former female anchor fired from Fox news?
Prominent female figures at Fox News who have experienced high-profile departures or terminations include Melissa Francis, Abby Grossberg (a senior producer rather than an on-air anchor), and local Fox affiliate anchor Taryn Asher.
News reporters use a distinct, formal speaking style to sound authoritative, remain easily understood, and remove distracting regional accents. This "broadcast voice" relies on a neutral accent, deliberate pacing, and steady pitch control. ·AustinMcConnell
Girls wear shirts that show their stomach—known as crop tops—primarily due to current fashion trends, hot weather comfort, and personal body confidence.
