Fans and media enthusiasts want to know Carley Shimkus's Fox News salary. Our research from reliable sources reveals the Fox & Friends First co-host's actual earnings in 2025. Multiple reports place her annual salary between $70,000 and $80,000. Some estimates suggest she might earn much more – anywhere from $1 million to $5 million per year.

The numbers tell an interesting story about Shimkus's compensation. Recent analysis shows she earns about $80,287 yearly, which comes to $38.60 per hour or $6,690 monthly. These earnings contribute to her net worth, estimated between $1 million and $2 million.

Her role as Fox & Friends First co-host likely commands a higher salary than her previous modeling career. The exact details of Shimkus's contract stay private. Let's explore what drives her compensation package and compare it with other Fox News personalities.

Carley Shimkus Fox News Salary in 2025

Carley Shimkus's Fox News salary in 2025 shows different numbers based on various sources. My research from trusted industry sources reveals a wide range that matches her role and experience at the network.

Estimated salary range and sources

Reports about Carley Shimkus's Fox News salary vary among different outlets. ZipRecruiter puts the average pay for positions like hers at Fox News at $25.87 per hour, which adds up to $53,800 yearly. Other media sources point to bigger numbers.

Tuko, which we can generally trust, says Carley Shimkus makes $80,287 a year. This breaks down to $38.60 per hour or $6,690 monthly. FreeJobAlert estimates she earns between $70,000 and $80,000, which lines up with Tuko's numbers.

Some sources suggest she earns even more. Famosintel claims her yearly pay ranges from $96,000 to $150,000. Hamariweb puts her annual earnings between $200,000 and $400,000. One source even suggests she might make between $1 million and $5 million yearly, but this seems way too high.

How her salary compares to other Fox anchors

Let's look at how Shimkus's pay fits into Fox News's overall salary structure. Glassdoor shows Fox News anchors and reporters earn around $68,263 as a median salary. Their data reveals:

  • Fox News Anchor/Reporters make between $78,000-$146,000, with $104,000 as the average base salary
  • Fox News Producers earn $85,373 on average
  • Fox News Production Assistants get about $45,722 yearly

These numbers suggest Shimkus's reported earnings of $70,000-$80,000 put her above the median for Fox News anchors but below what average anchor/reporters make. She earns good money but probably isn't among the network's highest-paid talent.

What is Carley Shimkus salary per year?

The most reliable sources suggest Carley Shimkus makes between $70,000 and $104,000 yearly. Multiple reports back up the lower number, while the higher figure matches Glassdoor's average base salary for Fox News anchor/reporters.

Her New York location helps boost her pay. New York ranks first among all 50 states for Fox News Anchor salaries and third nationwide for similar positions.

Her experience and growing popularity as a co-host of Fox & Friends First likely push her salary toward the higher end. The different reported figures show how private these network contracts are. Without official numbers, it's hard to know exactly what she makes.

She might also earn extra money from guest appearances, speaking events, or other media work on top of her Fox News salary.

Key Factors That Influence Her Salary

Several key factors shape Carley Shimkus's Fox News salary. Her professional experience and market value play a big role. The way news anchor compensation works at major networks like Fox goes beyond just numbers.

Experience and years in journalism

Experience is the life-blood of any news anchor's earning potential. Shimkus built her foundation with a broadcast journalism degree from Quinnipiac University. Her skills in journalistic ethics, storytelling, and audience connection directly boost her market value.

Senior anchors earn much more than those starting their careers. Their valuable networks of sources and contacts help them land exclusive interviews and stories. This access boosts the network's credibility and viewership, which leads to better compensation packages.

Tenure at Fox News since 2009

News anchor salaries depend heavily on how long they've been with a network. Shimkus started at Fox News Media in 2009 as a production assistant at Fox Business Network before becoming an associate producer. Her 16-year stay at the company gives her strong leverage during salary talks.

She has shown her versatility at Fox. She worked with the late Don Imus on "Imus in the Morning" which Fox Business Network syndicated. She later became a reporter for Fox News Headlines 24/7 and shared reports about social media and entertainment on Fox & Friends and Mediabuzz. Her journey led to her current role co-hosting Fox & Friends First with Todd Piro.

Long-term experience helps build deep knowledge of operations, audience priorities, and market trends. This knowledge improves on-air performance and decision-making, which justifies higher pay. Shimkus herself says, "I feel so blessed to have the career that Fox News has afforded me".

Popularity and show ratings

Ratings directly affect how much news anchors earn. Viewership numbers drive advertising rates and station revenue, which relate to how valuable on-air talent is. When Shimkus joined Fox & Friends First in November 2021, Fox News vice president Gavin Hadden pointed to her "experience developed over nearly a decade at Fox News" as a key strength.

Better ratings mean more advertising money for the network. Anchors who bring in lots of viewers help the station's bottom line, which increases their earning potential. Ratings matter most in competitive media markets. Anchors who beat their rivals at other networks can earn premium salaries.

Market value and negotiation power

An anchor's ability to negotiate affects their contract terms. Their market appeal, ratings success, and experience add to this power. Nothing helps get the best possible contract more than having strong negotiating power.

Contract talks cover more than just base salary. They include performance bonuses for hitting ratings goals, signing bonuses, expense accounts, and benefits packages. Good negotiation of these extras can boost an anchor's total compensation.

Bigger markets offer more room for contract flexibility. Fox News operates in New York—the biggest media market—which helps Shimkus's position. Fox News vice president Hadden publicly praised her value, saying they were "excited to have her join Fox & Friends First". This public support likely helped her during contract discussions.

Her Role and Responsibilities at Fox News

Carley Shimkus's daily work at Fox News affects her earning potential and shows why her salary keeps rising throughout her Fox News career. She fills multiple roles as a versatile on-air personality that adds to her market value within the network.

Co-hosting Fox & Friends First

Shimkus co-hosts Fox & Friends First with Todd Piro, a role she took over in November 2021. This early morning show runs weekdays from 5-6 AM EST and leads into the network's flagship morning program, Fox & Friends. She stepped in after Jillian Mele left to pursue her MBA at La Salle University.

Fox News VP of morning programming Gavin Hadden pointed to her 10-year experience at Fox News Media as a key qualification. Shimkus recognized the importance of joining this long-running franchise. "The Fox & Friends franchise has been the leader in morning television for nearly 20 years and I feel fortunate to be a part of this incredible team".

Her early time slot brings unique challenges, especially with overnight breaking news coverage. Shimkus explains, "A lot of the breaking news covered on the program occurs when the president travels overseas to a place where there is a time difference, as the show runs so early in the morning".

Guest appearances on other Fox shows

Beyond her main hosting role, Shimkus delivers news updates on Fox & Friends about social media trends, entertainment news, and consumer business news. She appears on other Fox programs like Fox News Saturday Night With Jimmy Failla where she talks about trending topics.

She has co-hosted several network specials during her Fox career, including "Countdown to All-American New Year" with Griff Jenkins in 2018.

Authoring and special segments

Shimkus has grown her role beyond regular hosting duties. She helped create the Fox News Cooking With Friends cookbook while pregnant with her son Brock. Fox family members contributed over 75 recipes to this collection.

She specializes in reporting on social media trends, entertainment news, and consumer business news. Her ability to switch between hard news and lighter feature segments makes her more valuable to the network.

Shimkus calls covering the Israel conflict one of her toughest assignments: "Honestly, having to cover what is currently happening in Israel has been the most difficult for me so far in my career. I've interviewed so many families of hostage victims… it's unspeakable and so heavy".

Career Journey: From Intern to Anchor

Carley Shimkus's current salary at Fox News reflects her remarkable rise from entry-level roles to becoming a prominent on-air personality. Her story shows how dedication to a single network can lead to substantial financial rewards.

Early days as a production assistant

Shimkus started her Fox News career in 2009 as a production assistant at Fox Business Network (FBN). She took her first role as a "greenroom greeter" at FBN. Her job involved coordinating with producers and escorting guests from the lobby to different greenrooms. This simple start gave her a great way to get networking opportunities as she connected with talent visiting the network.

During her early career, Shimkus worked among veteran broadcaster Don Imus on his radio show "Imus in the Morning," which Fox Business Network syndicated. Imus saw her talent and gave Shimkus some of her first chances to appear on air. Her hard work paid off with a promotion to associate producer by 2012.

Transition to on-air reporting

Shimkus made a key move from production to on-camera roles. Her professional attitude and journalistic skills made her perfect for television broadcasting. Her supervisors noticed her talent and gave her more on-air responsibilities.

She became a reporter for Fox News Headlines 24/7 and covered social media trends and entertainment news on the network's shows. She also worked as a substitute anchor on Fox News Channel and co-hosted content for Fox Nation streaming service.

Milestones in her Fox News career

Shimkus reached several career highlights at Fox News. She co-hosted network specials like "Countdown to All-American New Year" with Griff Jenkins in 2018. She showed her versatility by contributing to shows like Mediabuzz and Fox & Friends.

October 2021 marked a turning point when she became co-host of "Fox & Friends First" with Todd Piro. Fox News VP of morning programming Gavin Hadden praised her "great experience developed over nearly a decade at Fox News Media".

Shimkus shares this advice with aspiring journalists: "Say yes to new challenges that make you uncomfortable! Nerves = personal growth… Put in the extra hours, work the holidays and the weekends. Hard work is undefeated. Your boss will notice. All of it will pay off in the end."

Education, Background, and Personal Brand

Carley Shimkus's six-figure Fox News salary stems from her educational background and strong personal brand. Her academic achievements and unique career path have made her valuable in the competitive broadcast industry.

Broadcast journalism degree from Quinnipiac

Carley Shimkus earned her Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from Quinnipiac University in 2009. She chose Quinnipiac strategically because it had "a proven track record of getting recent graduates into newsrooms".

Her high school journalism advisor, Mr. Evans, suggested Quinnipiac, which ended up getting her first internship and the job she has now. She reached out to Fox News HR right after graduation and secured a position that kickstarted her career.

Short-lived modeling career

Shimkus tried her hand at modeling before pursuing journalism. She explained, "Because of my height, I figured I'd give modeling a try when I was in high school. It was a fun experience but not in the cards for me".

Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall, she matches Victoria's Secret models' height. Her family still laughs about her most memorable modeling job for Party City, where she posed in goth-style makeup to promote a Halloween costume.

Public image and social media presence

Shimkus has built a strong personal brand throughout her Fox career. She's quite relaxed about her past, revealing "I went through a hippie phase… so I wore a lot of flowy skirts and headscarves and beads".

These days, people recognize her "bright smile" and signature "cat-eye" makeup. She grew up watching "Fox & Friends" with her family every morning and says: "I thank God every day for allowing me to now work on the very show I used to watch".

Conclusion

Carley Shimkus makes between $70,000 and $80,000 a year at Fox News based on reliable sources, though some reports suggest much higher numbers. She started as a production assistant and worked her way up to co-host of Fox & Friends First. Her story shows how dedication and steady growth at one network can lead to big career moves.

Her pay reflects several important factors. She's been at Fox News for 16 years, which gives her deep knowledge of the network and plenty of on-air experience. Her broadcast journalism degree from Quinnipiac University built strong foundations for her career. The ratings of her shows and her growing popularity affect what she can negotiate in her contracts.

Shimkus's story began with basic roles – greeting guests in the greenroom and helping with production. She built her reputation step by step through hard work and adaptability. She knows how to cover everything from social media trends to complex stories like the Israel conflict, which makes her especially valuable to Fox News. Over time, she changed from working behind the scenes to becoming a well-known TV personality with her own unique style.

Carley Shimkus stands out as a success story in broadcast journalism. Her advice to new journalists comes from real experience: "Say yes to new challenges" and "Put in the extra hours." Yes, it is clear that her current role and salary at Fox News show both her growth and the network's trust in her work over the years.

FAQs

Q1. What is Carley Shimkus' estimated annual salary at Fox News?

Based on reliable sources, Carley Shimkus' annual salary at Fox News is estimated to be between $70,000 and $80,000. However, some reports suggest it could be higher, potentially ranging from $96,000 to $150,000 per year.

Q2. How does Carley Shimkus' salary compare to other Fox News anchors?

Carley Shimkus' salary appears to be slightly above the median for Fox News anchors but below the average for anchor/reporters. The median salary for Fox News anchors and reporters is around $68,263, while the average base salary for anchor/reporters is about $104,000.

Q3. What factors influence Carley Shimkus' salary at Fox News?

Key factors influencing Carley Shimkus' salary include her experience in journalism, tenure at Fox News since 2009, popularity and show ratings, and her market value. Her versatility in handling various roles and her ability to cover different types of news also contribute to her compensation.

Q4. What are Carley Shimkus' main responsibilities at Fox News?

Carley Shimkus co-hosts Fox & Friends First, makes guest appearances on other Fox shows, and contributes to special segments. She covers a range of topics including social media trends, entertainment news, and breaking news events.

Q5. How did Carley Shimkus progress in her career at Fox News?

Carley Shimkus started as a production assistant at Fox Business Network in 2009. She gradually transitioned to on-air reporting roles, becoming a reporter for Fox News Headlines 24/7. Her career milestone came in 2021 when she was appointed co-host of Fox & Friends First, showcasing her growth within the network over nearly 16 years.