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Top Sports Journalists Reveal Their Starting Salaries After ESPN’s Stormy Buonantony Started A Viral Trend

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

Stormy Buonantony asks the salaries of sports journalists.
Stormy Buonantony (Image Credits: @StormBuonantony/X)

Ever wondered how much well-known sports journalists earn annually? Look no further, as ESPN’s Stormy Buonantony asked that question, and the replies were abundant.

But there’s a catch. It’s not about what they are earning today. It’s about how much they earned when they started sports journalism or working in any sports-related capacity, aka their first job in this industry.

Everybody has to start somewhere, right? Even Buonantony worked her way up the ladder to become one of ESPN’s top sideline journalists.

How Much Did Stormy Buonantony Earn When She Started

Stormy Buonantony's starting salary wasn't too high.
Stormy Buonantony (Photo by IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Storymy Buonantony, a four-time Emmy Award-winning sports journalist, had a rocky start before getting her big break in the sports industry.

The amount she divulged was a bit surprising. It goes to show that the ladder to climb in this profession is steep and unguaranteed.

“I made $23,000 in my first job. Even when I was doing sideline freelance stuff in my mid twenties, I was doing them for free or maybe $150 to $250. The first big game I ever was assigned, I made $700 and I lost my mind. Just expect, in my opinion, that you’re gonna be poor for a long time before you get that gig that starts paying you,” Buonantony said on her TikTok and X accounts.

That’s why some sports fans just take the ‘easier’ route to become creators and challenge washed-up players. 

Well-Known Sports Journalists Responded To Buonantony’s Challenge

Buonantony's question was answered by sports jounalists.
Stormy Buonantony and Lincoln Riley (Photo by IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Surprisingly, some top journalists happily revealed how much they earned when they were starting out in the sports industry.

“August, 1988: $22,500 to be the ‘Voice of the Highlanders,” Wes Durnham said.

“$30 an article back in 2013. Now I get to write, handicap, make videos and pop up on VSiN talking sports. Worth it!” Chris Vasile replied.

“$18K per year (BEFORE TAXES), Valdosta Daily Times 1993. And loved every damn second of it. Didn’t know how underpaid I was because I worked for great people and got to be around Mumme/Leach in the early stages of their offense,” Daniel Shirley said.

“$19,500 to do PR/Radio for Single-A team. And I had a Masters degree,” David Bearman replied.

“$500 a week CFB/CBB Research at ESPN. Worked mid July through CBB title game. Rest of Spring/Summer was project stuff for a few weeks like X Games, etc,” Chris Fallica said.

“19 years old made $8 an hour as a board operator for a sports talk radio station in Burlington, VT. I was responsible for MNF and Yankees games,” Todd Furhman replied.

“$28K (I thought I was rich),” Stewart Mandel said.

“$3K/month. Had to write 5 articles a day and was miserable. Hated writing wanted to get on camera and here I am…on camera,” Gary Sheffield Jr replied.

If you love covering sports, this job is for you. The end reward is nice, but expect for the slow, long grind based on these replies.

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