I worked at small market TV stations for seven years. The first two I was a full-time PA, making less than I did filling lettuce part-time at Wal-Mart. The next five were as a director, were I started at around $12/hr, and by the time I left for a big market I was making just under$15/hr. Directing in a large market definitely pays better, but still nothing great. Anchors though, even in market 151, we had a few that were making around 70k. The reporters, and producers I think get fucked the most though. They're fresh out of college with a journalism degree, probably tons of debt, then get a job in a small market thinking it's the start to a promising career. Fast-forward two years, when their first contact expires, and half of them have washed-out and take a PR job after realizing that to make any money they need a job in a top 15 market. To get that job though, they probably need a few more years of experience, making 25k a year, while being overworked, and treated poorly. Then after you've got the experience you're competiting with reporters from 150 other markets, each market with probably 3 stations, and each station employing anywhere from 2 to 10 reporters. I've seen this playout a few times, to some really hard working, intelligent people, and it sucks.