As a veteran Fox News personality since 1996, Steve Doocy earns $4 million yearly, placing him among the network's top-paid political commentators. His nearly three-decade career has helped him build a net worth between $11 million and $14 million.
The long-time co-host of Fox & Friends announced he would step back from his full-time role. Doocy has anchored the show since its first broadcast on February 1, 1998, sharing the desk with co-hosts Ainsley Earhardt, Brian Kilmeade, and Lawrence Jones. His work has earned him widespread industry recognition and 11 Emmy Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Let's delve into Doocy's path to financial success, his Fox News compensation structure, and the career moves that shaped his wealth. We'll also compare his earnings with other Fox News personalities and explore how his changing role might affect his future income.
Steve Doocy’s Net Worth and Salary Overview
Steve Doocy's long media career has brought him remarkable financial success. His earnings show just how popular he became as one of the most familiar faces in morning television news.
How much is Steve Doocy worth?
This veteran Fox News host has built impressive wealth during his decades in broadcasting. Steve Doocy's net worth now ranges between $11 million and $14 million, which proves his lasting impact on American media. He earned this impressive amount through almost 30 years at Fox News along with several other revenue streams.
His wealth grew steadily from his early television days. He proved himself as a trusted news personality at NBC and ABC before Fox News. This experience laid strong foundations for his current wealth. His Emmy-winning journalism boosted his value in the industry by a lot.
His multi-million dollar worth comes from more than just broadcasting. Smart money management and various income sources, including publishing and other media work, helped build his fortune over time.
Annual salary at Fox News
Steve Doocy earns $4 million yearly as the life-blood of Fox & Friends. This big paycheck makes him one of cable news' highest-paid morning show hosts. The salary matches both his years of service and the commercial success of his shows.
His pay at Fox has grown impressively since 1996. Fox & Friends became one of cable TV's most-watched morning shows, and therefore his earnings increased to match his importance to the network.
Money experts believe he'll keep most of his salary even after announcing plans to cut back his full-time hosting role. His contract pays him not just to appear on air but also for bringing value to the network's brand.
Comparison with other Fox News anchors
Doocy's $4 million yearly salary puts him near the top of Fox News' pay scale, though not at its peak. Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson earned much more, with Hannity's yearly pay reaching about $25 million.
Among morning hosts, Doocy's pay matches his Fox & Friends co-hosts fairly well. Nobody knows the exact numbers for Ainsley Earhardt and Brian Kilmeade. Together, they're one of cable news' most expensive morning teams.
Broadcast network morning hosts earn more than Doocy. Stars at ABC's Good Morning America or NBC's Today Show typically make $15-20 million yearly. These numbers show the big gap between broadcast and cable news pay.
Doocy's pay package shows how much Fox News values him. His salary proves that established TV personalities have become crucial in today's competitive news world.
Early Career and Journalism Roots
Steve Doocy earned his impressive Fox News salary through years of hard work. He started by fostering his broadcasting skills in America's heartland. His experience from small-town radio to national television shows how persistence and adaptability shaped his future earnings.
First jobs in Kansas and Iowa
Steve Doocy was born in Algona, Iowa in 1956, with deep midwestern roots. His parents, James and JoAnne Doocy, moved the family to Kansas when he was 5 years old after his father got a job selling advertisements for a plat book. The Doocy family moved around quite a bit during his childhood. Steve attended schools in Russell, Salina, Industry, Wakefield, and Clay Center.
His broadcasting career started by chance at the University of Kansas. He discovered the campus radio station KJHK-FM on his first day of college, which sparked his media career. The station made him their first on-air disk jockey in 1975 when they launched their student-run programming.
The station received FCC permission to broadcast beyond campus on October 15 of his freshman year. Doocy picked Jimi Hendrix's version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" as the first song.
During college, Doocy landed his first TV job at KTSB-TV in Topeka as a weekend weather forecaster. After getting his journalism degree in 1979, he hosted "PM Magazine" at KAKE in Wichita and later moved to KMBC in Kansas City in the early 1980s.
Breakthrough with NBC and ABC
Doocy's career took off in 1984 when he joined WRC-TV, NBC's affiliate in Washington, D.C. This big-market move let him create fun feature segments called "Steve Doocy's World". His friendly personality and humorous take on human interest stories helped build his reputation as a well-rounded broadcaster.
The Washington job opened doors to national exposure. During this time, Doocy developed his friendly on-camera style that would become his trademark at Fox News and boost his earnings significantly.
Hosting 'House Party' and 'Wake Up America'
NBC noticed Doocy's rising popularity and chose him to host his first national show, "House Party with Steve Doocy" in 1989. They filmed the revival of Art Linkletter's classic show in NBC's Studio 8H at Rockefeller Center, which also houses Saturday Night Live. The show ran for one season until 1990, but it helped increase Doocy's national visibility.
After "House Party," he hosted FOX's children's newsmagazine "Not Just News" from 1990 to 1994. This role showed he could handle different formats and audiences effectively.
NBC's "America's Talking" cable channel made Doocy the co-host of "Wake Up America" in 1994. This morning show role previewed his future success on "Fox & Friends" and proved his talent in morning television formats where he would find his greatest success.
Doocy wrapped up his pre-Fox career as co-anchor of WCBS-TV's "Early Morning Newscast" in New York before joining Fox News in November 1996. This final role strengthened his morning television credentials that led to his multi-million dollar Fox News salary.
Fox News Career and 'Fox & Friends' Legacy
Steve Doocy reshaped the scene of cable news with a remarkable legacy that spans almost three decades at Fox News. His experience from weather reporter to morning show staple helped shape one of the network's most enduring franchises.
Joining Fox News in 1996
Roger Ailes launched Fox News Channel in 1996, and Doocy joined the ranks of original talent at the fledgling network. He started at the time of its inception as the "weather guy" based in New York City. This proved a smart move since Doocy had worked on Ailes' "America's Talking" cable channel, which closed when Ailes left NBC for News Corp. Several America's Talking personalities followed Ailes to the new venture, Doocy among them.
Doocy's career stands out as a rare broadcasting achievement. He worked in some capacity for all but one of the major networks (NBC, CBS, ABC, and Fox) throughout his career. This unique experience in multiple major networks added substantial value to his role at Fox News.
Becoming a co-host of Fox & Friends
The network expanded Doocy's role substantially two years after his arrival. He became co-host of the newly launched Fox & Friends in February 1998. This role marked the start of one of the longest hosting tenures in morning television history, second only to Al Roker of NBC's Today Show.
Doocy's time on Fox & Friends has seen him work with various co-hosts. His current partners include Ainsley Earhardt, Lawrence Jones, and Brian Kilmeade. Their chemistry has helped the show maintain its position as a dominant force in morning television.
Impact on morning news ratings
Fox & Friends achieved remarkable ratings milestones under Doocy's leadership. The program became cable news's most-watched show within three years of his arrival. The show managed to keep its position as cable's highest-rated morning show for 24 consecutive years.
The program's success extends beyond cable competition:
- Fox & Friends has averaged 1.5 million viewers in 2025, surpassing CNN and MSNBC's morning programs combined
- Select markets show the program outperforming major broadcast competitors like NBC's Today, ABC's Good Morning America, and CBS Mornings
- Tampa, Florida's viewers rank Fox & Friends number one across the board, beating all three broadcast network morning shows
The New York Times called Fox & Friends "the most powerful TV show in America". This consistent dominance highlights Doocy's contribution to the network's success and explains his substantial salary.
Relationship with political figures
Doocy's Fox career includes numerous high-profile interviews with political figures from all sides, including Donald Trump, George W. Bush, Mitt Romney, Hillary Clinton, Dick Cheney, and Mike Pence.
Trump's relationship with Doocy stands out. Before his presidential run, Trump appeared weekly on Fox & Friends, which helped establish his political voice. After winning the election, the president called it "the most honest morning show" and often quoted it on Twitter.
Trump rated reporters' loyalty on a scale of 1 to 10 in 2019, giving Doocy an extraordinary "12 out of 10". Despite this close relationship, Doocy showed his journalistic integrity by challenging Trump and extending equal airtime to then-candidate Joe Biden in 2020.
Doocy announced a shift to a new role at Fox News in May 2025, broadcasting from locations across the country. Trump marked this change with a special video tribute from the Oval Office to celebrate Doocy's contributions.
Other Income Sources Beyond Fox News
Steve Doocy has created multiple revenue streams that go well beyond his Fox News anchor salary. His media persona has helped him build several profitable business ventures over the years.
Cookbook sales and bestseller success
Writing cookbooks has become a major moneymaker for Doocy. He and his wife Kathy have written four New York Times bestsellers together. Their cooking books have been particularly successful, starting with "The Happy Cookbook: A Celebration of the Food That Makes America Smile" in 2018. This vibrant collection features family recipes and dishes from celebrity friends like musician Kid Rock and golfer Greg Norman.
Their follow-up book "Happy in a Hurry Cookbook" hit the market in 2020 and jumped straight to number one on the New York Times Best Seller list. The timing worked perfectly as it became one of America's most popular cookbooks during the COVID-19 pandemic. "The Simply Happy Cookbook," their latest creation, adds over a hundred easy recipes to this successful series.
Speaking engagements and appearances
Doocy's speaking fees show his market value. He typically earns between $10,000 and $20,000 for each event, thanks to his expertise on various topics. Based in New York, he travels nationwide for corporate events, personal appearances, and performances.
These talks help him earn extra income and promote his books. This smart business approach makes his brand even more valuable.
Fox Nation's Cooking with Steve Doocy
Doocy has expanded his culinary brand by hosting cooking shows on Fox Nation, Fox's subscription streaming service. His main show "Cooking with Steve Doocy" connects directly with his bestselling cookbooks. Viewers watch him cook favorite recipes while he shares stories with family and friends.
He also hosts "Cooking in a Hurry with Steve Doocy," which showcases easy recipes from his "Happy in a Hurry Cookbook". Each episode takes viewers into celebrities' homes where they discuss and prepare their signature dishes. This streaming content creates another revenue stream that builds on his publishing success.
Real Estate, Lifestyle, and Family
The prominent television host's values shine through both on screen and in his personal life. His success in broadcasting stands alongside his deep family bonds and religious faith.
Homes in New Jersey and Florida
Doocy's Fox News career centered around a charming family home in Wyckoff, New Jersey. He bought this "classic Sicomac beauty" for $585,000 in 1994. The property spans over an acre of land and served as his family's main home for decades. The four-bedroom house hit the market for $1.75 million. He and Kathy added a three-bedroom Jupiter, Florida residence to their portfolio in 2014, paying $1 million. This move fits perfectly with his announcement about Florida-based remote broadcasting in May 2025.
Family life and children's careers
Steve and Kathy Doocy's marriage dates back to 1986, when he wed the former model and TV sports reporter. They raised three children together: Mary, Sally, and Peter. Their son Peter has followed in his father's footsteps and now works as Fox News Senior White House Correspondent. The Doocy household thrives on unique traditions – they write poems for special occasions instead of buying cards. Steve and Kathy now enjoy being grandparents to Bridget Blake, born February 2023, and George Jack, who arrived in April 2025.
Religious and community involvement
Roman Catholic faith remains central to Doocy's identity and community ties. He reads as a lector in his church and his religious commitment has never wavered throughout his career. Father Jerome Fasano baptized two of his children at St. Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church in the early 1990s.
His faith proved crucial during family challenges, particularly when his daughter Sally needed eye surgery as an infant. The Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas acknowledged his contributions by naming him Distinguished Kansan of the Year in 2014.
Conclusion
Steve Doocy's remarkable trip from a Kansas radio station made him one of Fox News' most recognizable faces and shows what's possible in broadcast journalism. His time at Fox News spans nearly three decades, where he built an impressive $4 million annual salary and created various income sources that added up to his estimated $11-14 million net worth.
His staying power on "Fox & Friends" shows his strong connection with viewers. The morning show has managed to keep its spot as cable's highest-rated morning program for 24 straight years, which explains his substantial pay package.
His business sense reaches far beyond television. He created multiple income streams that add to his main Fox News salary through his cookbook empire, speaking events that bring in $10,000-$20,000 each, and Fox Nation streaming content. This mix of income sources turned out very useful for his long-term financial security.
Doocy scaled back his full-time hosting role recently, but his legacy at Fox News stays strong. He made a smart move to Florida that fits both his personal life and professional growth, which points to careful planning for his career's next phase.
His story shows how much versatility matters in the digital world. He went from weather reporter to bestselling author, political interviewer to cooking show host. Knowing how to adapt while staying true to himself brought him financial success and career stability that few TV news personalities can claim.
FAQs
Q1. What is Steve Doocy's annual salary at Fox News?
Steve Doocy earns an impressive $4 million per year as a Fox News host, making him one of the network's highest-paid political commentators.
Q2. How long has Steve Doocy been with Fox News?
Steve Doocy has been with Fox News since 1996, building a successful career spanning nearly three decades at the network.
Q3. What is Steve Doocy's estimated net worth?
Steve Doocy's net worth is estimated to be between $11 million and $14 million, accumulated through his long career in broadcasting and various other ventures.
Q4. Has Steve Doocy written any books?
Yes, Steve Doocy has co-authored four New York Times bestsellers with his wife Kathy, including popular cookbooks like "The Happy Cookbook" and "The Simply Happy Cookbook."
Q5. Is Steve Doocy still a full-time host on Fox & Friends?
Recently, Steve Doocy announced he would be scaling back his role as a full-time co-host of Fox & Friends, transitioning to a new role that involves broadcasting from remote locations across the country.
