Many viewers still wonder what Kristen Welker salary is. Kristen Welker has become a household name as one of America’s most respected broadcast journalists.
As the co-anchor of Weekend TODAY and NBC News White House correspondent, Kristen regularly breaks major stories and conducts high-profile interviews with newsmakers.
But despite her prominence, we still wish to know how much the veteran journalist makes for her work across multiple NBC platforms.
In this article, we’ll closely examine Kristen Welker’s career, roles, and earnings to understand her income and net worth better today.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or just becoming familiar with this talented reporter, you’ll learn about Kristen’s financial compensation and how she’s thrived professionally over the past two decades.
Kristen’s Early Life and Career Beginnings
Before being a household name, Kristen Blaine Welker got her start like many aspiring journalists—working her way up through local news.
She was born in Philadelphia in 1976 and attended Germantown Friends School, where she wrote for the student newspaper.
Kristen graduated from Harvard College with a degree in American history in 1998.
While at Harvard, she landed an internship at NBC’s TODAY Show, getting her foot in the door with the network.
Her first job out of college was as a weekend reporter for WCAU, the NBC affiliate in Philadelphia.
She then spent a few years working at NBC-owned stations in Providence, Rhode Island; Norfolk, Virginia; and Miami, Florida.
During her early years as a local news reporter, Kristen gained valuable experience covering major stories like the 2000 presidential election.
Rising Through the Ranks at NBC News
Kristen’s big break came in 2010 when she was hired as a general assignment reporter at NBC’s Washington, D.C. bureau.
She quickly established herself as a skilled beat reporter covering politics, including the 2012 presidential election between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.
Her poised coverage on the campaign trail and ability to break down complex policy issues boosted her profile on the network.
In December 2011, NBC announced that Kristen would become the new Weekend TODAY co-anchor alongside David Gregory.
This was her first network-level role, marking a major step forward in her career.
Over the next few years, Kristen alternated between co-hosting weekend editions of TODAY and reporting for NBC Nightly News and MSNBC.
She also played a key role as a moderator during NBC’s televised candidate forums before the 2016 election.
Her skilled moderating and acute political insight led NBC to appoint Kristen as their White House correspondent in November 2016, just as the Trump presidency was set to begin.
How Much is Kristen Welker Salary as White House Correspondent and Weekend TODAY Co-Anchor?
So how much do a top-tier White House correspondent and nationally-televised anchor like Kristen Welker earn as salary at a major network like NBC?
According to various reports, Kristen Welker’s salary at NBC is $750,000 annually as of 2024. This makes her one of the highest-paid journalists at NBC News.
Her lucrative salary reflects her comprehensive role and responsibilities at the network.
In addition to co-anchoring the Saturday and Sunday editions of TODAY each weekend, Kristen also regularly covers the White House and President Biden for NBC outlets.
Plus, she anchors MSNBC’s special coverage around major political events like presidential addresses, primaries, and debates.
As one of NBC’s most prominent on-air talents, Kristen Welker receives significant compensation from the network.
Her salary is commensurate with leading anchors like Lester Holt and Savannah Guthrie.
However, her earnings are not disclosed publicly because NBC keeps salaries confidential.
Reports estimate that Kristen rakes in around $750k annually, but her actual compensation may fluctuate higher or lower.
NBC also typically pays personalities like Kristen through short-term contracts versus long-term deals.
This allows them to re-negotiate salaries regularly based on the anchor’s audience draw and overall value to the network.
How Kristen Welker Salary Compares to Other Top News Anchors
To put Kristen Welker’s estimated $750,000 annual salary in perspective, here’s a look at how she stacks up against other top TV news anchors and reporters:
- Lester Holt (NBC Nightly News anchor): $10 million per year
- Savannah Guthrie (TODAY co-anchor): $8 million per year
- David Muir (ABC World News Tonight anchor): $7 million – $10 million per year
- George Stephanopoulos (ABC News anchor): $6 million to $10 million per year
- Anderson Cooper (CNN anchor): $12 million per year
- Sean Hannity (Fox News host): $40 million per year
- Bret Baier (Fox News anchor): $7 million per year
- Andrea Mitchell (NBC News correspondent): $750,000 – $1 million per year
So while Kristen earns an impressive salary at NBC, she still makes less than long-time top anchors like Lester Holt and Savannah Guthrie.
However, her compensation is on par with other established NBC News correspondents.
And given her rising star power and versatility across NBC’s portfolio, Kristen could likely negotiate a salary bump in future contract negotiations.
How Kristen Welker’s Net Worth Stacks Up to Other Anchors
In addition to her annual salary, Kristen Welker has accumulated significant wealth through other income sources and investments over her broadcasting career.
While her exact net worth is unknown, estimates peg it around $5 million.
Here’s a look at how Kristen’s estimated net worth compares to other popular news personalities:
- Anderson Cooper: $200 million
- Sean Hannity: $250 million
- Savannah Guthrie: $20 million
- Lester Holt: $15 million
- Robin Roberts: $14 million
- David Muir: $12 million
- George Stephanopoulos: $12 million
So while she’s certainly well-compensated, Kristen Welker’s net worth is lower than long-tenured TV anchors like Lester Holt and George Stephanopoulos.
However, she fares better than younger anchors like David Muir and Robin Roberts.
And at just 46 years old, Kristen still has many more years to keep building her wealth through salary earnings.
Salary is One Part of Kristen’s Career Success and Impact
While her healthy paycheck reflects her value as a journalist, money has never been Kristen Welker’s primary motivation. In interviews, she often emphasizes that impacting people through news is her true reward.
Throughout her steady rise from a local reporter to a prominent anchor, Kristen stayed laser-focused on delivering trustworthy journalism to audiences.
NBC noticed her hard work, poise under pressure, and sharp news instincts.
Beyond her income, Kristen measures her success by breaking meaningful stories, scoring sit-down interviews with influencers, and holding the powerful accountable.
For instance, her 2020 election town hall moderating earned widespread praise for its substance and command of facts.
Her nonpartisan approach showcased Kristen’s commitment to fairness and transparency above all else.
From pressing President Trump on immigration policy to confronting leaders on racial justice issues, Kristen leverages her platform to inform citizens and amplify underrepresented voices.
So while her six-figure salary reflects her star authority, Kristen Welker’s greater reward is bringing truth to light through impactful daily reporting.
For journalists like Kristen, a paycheck pales compared to educating viewers and delivering clarity when Americans need it most.
The Road Ahead for Kristen Welker
As she looks ahead to the future, there’s no limit to how much more Kristen Welker can accomplish journalistically—and earn financially.
More lucrative salaries will likely await her if she continues rising through the ranks at NBC. With her strong track record, it’s easy to envision Kristen eventually earning over $1 million as a top anchor.
Network leadership also often rewards longevity. For instance, after decades at ABC, anchors like David Muir earn multi-million annual paychecks.
With 20+ years in broadcasting ahead of her, Kristen has plenty of time to keep increasing her wealth.
But beyond money, Kristen Welker’s more significant impact on the industry is still to come.
With her outstanding political coverage, it’s not hard to imagine Kristen moderating a future presidential debate or anchoring her own primetime show.
She also has significant potential to grow into positive roles like executive producing, mentorship, and advocacy, expanding her wealth and influence.
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Conclusion
While figures like her salary and net worth illuminate certain aspects of her work, they hardly define Kristen Welker’s broadcasting success.
Above all, her accomplishments stem from an unwavering commitment to fearless reporting and connecting with viewers.
Looking ahead, this outstanding young journalist has nowhere to go but up.
Kristen will continue enlightening audiences while increasing her wealth and reach through NBC and beyond. For this rising news superstar, the best is certainly yet to come.
