Jessica Tarlov makes approximately $2 million per year as a Fox News contributor. Many viewers have wondered about this prominent liberal voice's paycheck on conservative television, and the concrete figures are now available to share.
She joined "The Five" as a co-host in early 2022 and quickly became one of the network's most valuable political commentators. Her role extends beyond Fox News, as she holds the position of Vice President at Bustle Digital Group. These combined roles have helped build her impressive net worth of $3.5 to $4 million as of 2025. Variety recognized her professional achievements by naming her among their Women of Impact in May 2024.
The financial journey of this prominent media figure reveals interesting details about her career path. Her transformation from political strategist to television personality has been remarkable, and her income sources extend well beyond her Fox News salary. Let's delve into how her 2023 earnings compare to her current salary and other revenue streams.
Jessica Tarlov’s 2025 Salary Revealed
Jessica Tarlov's 2025 compensation package shows her growing influence in political commentary. The liberal analyst earns a solid base salary at Fox News. She also gets performance incentives and appearance fees that add up to boost her yearly earnings.
How much does Jessica Tarlov make in 2025?
Fox News pays Jessica Tarlov about $2 million yearly in 2025. This amount comes from her regular spots on "The Five" and extra income from other Fox News show appearances. Her pay puts her in the middle range of network contributors. She earns less than big names like Sean Hannity but a lot more than new commentators.
Her earnings setup combines guaranteed money with performance rewards. Unlike other commentators who only get paid per appearance, Tarlov has a stable contract. This gives her financial security and room to earn more based on viewership numbers and audience response.
Jessica Tarlov Fox News salary breakdown
Here's what makes up Tarlov's Fox News pay:
- Base salary: About $1.4 million yearly
- "The Five" co-host bonus: Around $250,000
- Special segment appearances: $150,000-$200,000
- Rating-based performance bonuses: Up to $150,000 yearly
- Contract retention bonuses: About $100,000
Her contract also covers travel costs, hair and makeup services, and clothes allowances. These perks add real value beyond her basic salary.
Comparison with Jessica Tarlov salary 2023
Tarlov's 2025 pay shows solid growth from 2023. She made around $1.7 million in 2023, which means her pay jumped by 17.6% in two years. This increase beats both inflation and typical media industry raises during this time.
Several things helped her get this big raise. Her strong work on "The Five" gave her more bargaining power. She also became more valuable to the network by appearing on other Fox News shows. Her ongoing work with Bustle Digital Group made her worth more as a media personality across different platforms.
Industry experts say Fox News values her role as a thoughtful liberal voice on their mostly conservative network. This unique position helps them reach broader audiences and adds to their credibility.
How Her Career Growth Shaped Her Earnings
Jessica Tarlov's exceptional financial success comes from her carefully built career that turned her from an academic into one of cable news' most recognizable liberal voices. Her path from analyst behind the scenes to media personality shows how smart career choices can multiply earning potential.
From political strategist to TV personality
Jessica Tarlov built her foundation on strong academic credentials. She earned a Ph.D. in political science from the London School of Economics. She started her professional life at Merrill Lynch as a project manager and represented the company at EU directive conferences. Her career changed direction when she joined Douglas Schoen LLC in 2008.
She led a six-person research team at Schoen's firm and advised high-profile clients including former NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg. This role became a great stepping stone. Schoen, a longtime Fox News contributor, later recommended her to network executives. He believed she would make an effective liberal voice.
Timeline of salary development from 2014 to 2025
Tarlov's earnings show impressive growth:
- 2014: She made her Fox News debut as an occasional guest commentator
- 2017: She became an official Fox News contributor
- 2022: The network promoted her to co-host on "The Five," with her salary rising to $900,000-$2 million
- 2023-2025: Her annual pay settled at about $2 million
Each step up multiplied her earning potential. Her co-host position on "The Five" brought her biggest financial jump.
Key turning points in her media career
Several key moments boosted Tarlov's market value. Her regular spot on Sean Hannity's prime-time program increased her visibility. Her November 2022 signing with Creative Artists Agency gave her strong negotiating power.
The biggest change came in January 2022 when she landed the rotating liberal co-host position on "The Five". This happened as the show made history as the first non-primetime program to rank first in cable news viewership and demographics. She proved valuable to Fox News because she could state liberal positions while keeping discussions civil during heated debates.
Income Sources Beyond Fox News
Jessica Tarlov earns her main income from Fox News, but her financial interests go way beyond her television work. She has developed several income streams that add up to her estimated net worth of $3.5-$4 million in 2025.
Vice President role at Bustle Digital Group
Tarlov works as Senior Vice President of Research and Consumer Insight at Bustle Digital Group (BDG). She moved up from her previous Vice President position at the company. She guides a team that gives vital insights about consumer buying habits and brand priorities across BDG's nine digital properties.
Her work involves working with advertising and marketing partners to get better campaign results. This executive position brings in substantial income alongside her Fox News earnings and helps her stay relevant in the digital world beyond TV.
Book royalties and speaking engagements
Tarlov co-authored "America in the Age of Trump: A Bipartisan Guide" with Douglas Schoen in July 2017. The book gets more and thus encourages more royalties that add to her yearly income.
Her speaking fees are impressive too, usually ranging between $5,000 and $20,000 per appearance. Some reports suggest she might charge $50,000-$100,000 for bigger events. This makes public speaking one of her most profitable ventures.
Consulting and political analysis work
Tarlov runs an active consulting practice alongside her media and corporate roles. She spent over five years at Schoen Consulting as a Democratic strategist, where she advised clients both in the US and internationally about messaging strategies.
She worked on Boris Johnson's London mayoral re-election campaign in 2012, focusing on social media strategy and content creation. Her political strategy consulting remains a significant source of income.
She also appears as a guest commentator on other networks besides Fox News. This brings in extra income and helps protect against industry changes. These different income sources work together to ensure she's not just dependent on her Fox News salary.
Contract Details, Bonuses, and Take-Home Pay
Jessica Tarlov's smart career moves at Fox News have built her wealth well beyond her yearly earnings. She crafted a strong financial position through careful contract negotiations that helped her deal with high-income tax realities.
Creative Artists Agency and contract negotiations
Her decision to join Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in November 2022 changed everything and gave her more power to negotiate with Fox News. This mutually beneficial alliance helped her get better scheduling options to balance family life. She serves as one of the liberal voices on "The Five," and her representation likely secured content approval rights. These rights and editorial input options are common in media contracts for high-profile personalities.
Performance-based bonuses and incentives
Fox News shows its commitment to Tarlov's talent through her compensation structure. Her base pay reaches around $500,000, plus performance bonuses that could add another $200,000. Ratings success and audience growth numbers drive these bonus payments. She commands premium contract terms because of her unique role as a liberal voice on a conservative network.
Taxation and cost of living in New York
Tarlov's impressive earnings face heavy cuts from various taxes. She pays federal taxes at the highest bracket. New York State takes another 9.65% from high earners. New York City residents must pay an extra 3.87% municipal income tax.
Manhattan's sky-high housing costs eat up much of what's left after taxes.
Conclusion
Jessica Tarlov earns about $2 million yearly from Fox News, which makes her a valuable liberal voice on conservative television. Her experience from political strategist to media personality shows how smart career choices can substantially boost earning potential. She became a co-host on "The Five" in 2022 and has seen her salary grow by 17.6% since 2023.
Tarlov knows how to create multiple income streams. She serves as Senior Vice President at Bustle Digital Group, which adds to her financial success. Her earnings come from book royalties and speaking events that pay $5,000-$20,000 per appearance. She also does consulting work. These ventures have helped her build a net worth of $3.5-4 million.
Her strategic collaboration with Creative Artists Agency has given her better negotiating power. She now gets favorable contract terms with guaranteed income and performance-based incentives. In spite of that, federal, state, and municipal taxes take a big chunk of her earnings, especially with New York's high living costs.
Tarlov ended up successful because of her unique market position. She gives Fox News valuable viewpoint diversity as a thoughtful liberal commentator on a conservative network. She builds her brand on multiple platforms at the same time. Her blend of academic credentials and business sense suggests higher earnings in the future. Her career path shows how expert knowledge, smart positioning, and adaptability can lead to great financial rewards in today's digital world.
FAQs
Q1. What is Jessica Tarlov's estimated annual salary in 2025?
Jessica Tarlov's annual salary from Fox News is estimated to be approximately $2 million in 2025, reflecting her value as a prominent liberal voice on the network.
Q2. How has Jessica Tarlov's career progression impacted her earnings?
Tarlov's career growth from political strategist to TV personality has significantly boosted her earning potential. Her promotion to co-host on "The Five" in 2022 marked a substantial increase in her salary.
Q3. Does Jessica Tarlov have income sources beyond her Fox News salary?
Yes, Tarlov has multiple income streams. She serves as Senior Vice President at Bustle Digital Group, earns royalties from her book, receives fees for speaking engagements, and does consulting work.
Q4. What educational background does Jessica Tarlov have?
Tarlov holds a Ph.D. in political science from the London School of Economics, which has contributed to her expertise and credibility in political commentary.
Q5. How does Jessica Tarlov's contract with Fox News work?
Tarlov's contract includes a base salary, performance-based bonuses tied to ratings, and additional compensation for special segment appearances. Her partnership with Creative Artists Agency has helped her secure favorable contract terms.
