Profession
Investigative Reporter
It exposes truths that those in power want to hide.
As an investigative reporter, you spend your time exposing wrongdoing that powerful people and institutions try to keep hidden. You chase stories about corruption, crime, fraud, and abuse of power, gathering documents, analyzing data, and interviewing sources over weeks or months. Unlike fast daily news, your work is patient and thorough, built on double-checking every fact before it goes public. Your days involve filing records requests, meeting nervous sources, poring over spreadsheets, and writing carefully worded stories. You work at newspapers, television stations, digital outlets, and nonprofit newsrooms, usually alongside editors who help stress-test your reporting.
Average salary
$4,000 – $12,000
Education
4 years
Employability
83%
🎥 See what it's really like
How to Become an Investigative Reporter
NBCU Academy lays out the skills and steps for getting into investigative reporting.
A Day in the Life of an Investigative Reporter
A local TV station shows a reporter at work chasing stories.
How Do Investigative Journalists Find Public Records?
A practical look at one of the core research tools of the job.
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❓ Frequently asked questions
How much does a Investigative Reporter professional earn?▾
Salary ranges from $4,000 – $12,000 per month, depending on specialization, region, and experience. Professionals in major cities tend to earn above the national average.
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