Report news for television and radio broadcasts including live field reporting. Median salary in Fort Smith: $41K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Broadcast Journalists in Fort Smith earn approximately 25% lower than the US national median for this role — a $14,000 discount on annual base salary. Fort Smith's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 75 (US avg = 100).
Average 1-bedroom rent in Fort Smith ($900/mo) consumes approximately 40% of an after-tax median Broadcast Journalist salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home — a salary at the 75th percentile ($62K) brings that ratio into a more comfortable range here.
Broadcast Journalist wages are growing at -1% year-over-year — slower than the BLS all-occupations average of ~3.5%. Real wages may lag inflation in years where CPI exceeds this rate, so total compensation negotiation (bonus, equity, benefits) matters more than base salary growth for this role.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $41K by 2030.
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The median Broadcast Journalist salary in Fort Smith, AR is $41,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Fort Smith–AR metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Entry-level Broadcast Journalists in Fort Smith with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $29,000 and $41,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $41,000 to $62,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $62,000 to $96,000 or more.
Fort Smith has a cost of living index of 75 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 25% further in Fort Smith than the national average. Arkansas has a 4.9% state income tax rate.
Bachelor's in Journalism or Broadcasting; on-air experience. 20% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.