Steve Doocy Salary Revealed: Inside a Fox & Friends Host's Earnings (2025)

Steve Doocy earns an impressive $4 million yearly at Fox News, which places him among television's highest-paid political commentators. His 27-year tenure as a Fox & Friends co-host has been remarkable, and he announced plans to scale back his network role.

The veteran broadcaster's career has helped him build a fortune, with net worth estimates between $11 million and $14 million. His work has earned him notable recognition, including 11 Emmy Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

The morning show will see Doocy shift to a new position starting May 2025, where he will travel extensively instead of making daily appearances.

Let's take a closer look at Doocy's impressive earnings and broadcasting career, from his early days through his Fox News tenure, while exploring his new role. We'll also explore his other ventures beyond television that have added to his financial success.

Steve Doocy’s Salary in 2025: The Numbers Revealed

Steve Doocy earns $4 million yearly at Fox News in 2025. He ranks among the top cable news personalities. The 68-year-old has built an impressive financial portfolio in his almost 30 years at the network. His pay shows his long-term value to Fox News, especially as one of the first hosts who made Fox & Friends a morning TV staple.

Annual salary from Fox News

His $4 million yearly earnings put him in Fox News's top talent group, though not at the absolute peak. The network's highest-paid hosts make $15-$25 million each year. Fox & Friends leads the 6-9 AM ratings, and Doocy's steady morning presence brings real value to the network.

His pay package typically has:

• Base salary that makes up most of his earnings
• Performance bonuses linked to ratings goals
• Appearance fees for special network events
• Contract bonuses for staying with the network

Doocy moved to a lighter schedule in 2025, but his salary stayed the same. This shows Fox News wants to keep him around, even with fewer on-air hours.

Estimated net worth in 2025

Steve Doocy's total net worth ranges from $11 million to $14 million. This comes from his broadcast career and other ventures over 27 years at Fox News, plus his success as an author.

His wealth goes beyond his Fox News paycheck. He wrote five bestselling books with his wife Kathy, including "The Happy Cookbook" and "The Happy in a Hurry Cookbook." These books add nicely to his TV income. Doocy also made smart real estate moves, buying properties in New Jersey and Florida that grew in value over time.

He gets paid well for speaking events and appearances. His status as a well-known Fox News personality helps him draw big audiences.

Comparison with past earnings

Doocy's current $4 million salary shows how far he's come. He started at Fox News in 1996 with a much smaller paycheck in the mid-six figures. His first big pay raise came when he became co-host of Fox & Friends in 1998.

Fox & Friends became a ratings hit in the 2000s, and Doocy's pay grew with it. The show's influence peaked during the Trump years (2017-2021) when the president often talked about Fox & Friends segments. This likely led to another big bump in Doocy's pay.

His pay growth shows the benefits of staying put in TV news. Many broadcasters hop between networks, but Doocy's 27 years at Fox News let him negotiate better deals over time. His latest contract lets him work less while keeping his high salary. This proves his worth to the network as both a familiar face and a link to Fox News's early days.

How Steve Doocy Built His Career in Broadcasting

Steve Doocy's trip to his $4 million annual salary started in America's heartland. His broadcasting roots grew strong well before he became famous on Fox News. Born in Algona, Iowa, Doocy showed how persistence and adaptability in smaller markets could lead to national success and substantial financial rewards.

Early jobs in Kansas and Iowa

The year 1975 marked the start of Doocy's broadcasting career at the University of Kansas. He planned to become a newspaper reporter. His life changed when he walked into the student radio station KJHK-FM. The energy fascinated him so much that he became a disk jockey, which started his media career.

Doocy earned his journalism degree in 1979 and built his experience through local television roles:

• Weekend weather forecaster at KTSB-TV in Topeka
• Reporter positions at stations in Des Moines, Wichita, and Kansas City
• Host of "PM Magazine" at KAKE in Wichita and KMBC in Kansas City in the early 1980s

His first big break came with a features reporter role at WRC-TV (NBC) in Washington, D.C. in 1984. Doocy described this move as stepping "from the Borsch Belt of broadcasting to the big leagues".

Breakthrough with House Party and Wake Up America

NBC chose Doocy to host "House Party with Steve Doocy" in 1989. The show revived Art Linkletter's 1960s program and ran until 1990. This gave him his first nationwide exposure.

He hosted "Not Just News," a children's newsmagazine on FOX from 1990 to 1994. The show helped him expand his broadcasting skills to include children's programming.

The year 1994 brought a crucial moment in Doocy's morning television career. He became co-host of "Wake Up America" on NBC's "America's Talking" cable network. This role helped him develop the on-air skills and morning show expertise that would shape his future at Fox.

Doocy worked as co-anchor for WCBS-TV's "Early Morning Newscast" in New York before joining Fox News in 1996. This role strengthened his morning television credentials.

Joining Fox News in 1996

Fox News Channel hired Doocy as part of the network's core team in 1996. He started as a weather reporter, but his versatility and morning show experience proved valuable to the growing network.

His career at Fox reached new heights in 1998 when he became co-host of "FOX & Friends". This role began his 27-year run on the program. Doocy became one of morning television's most familiar faces.

The early years at Fox News saw Doocy help transform "FOX & Friends" from a new morning show to a ratings leader with strong political influence. Without doubt, his long-term commitment to the program helped increase his salary over the decades to his current multi-million dollar earnings.

The Fox & Friends Era: A 27-Year Legacy

Fox & Friends stands as the life-blood of Steve Doocy's broadcasting career. His journey has made him a morning television institution and earned him an impressive $4 million annual salary. The last three decades have seen Doocy evolve from a TV personality into a political influencer whose breakfast-time opinions reached the White House.

Becoming a co-host in 1998

Doocy started at Fox News Channel in 1996 as "the weather guy." He quickly climbed the ladder and became Fox & Friends' co-host when the show launched in February 1998. His presence on morning television struck a chord with viewers.

The show became the most-watched program in cable news just three years into his tenure. This success kicked off an exceptional 24-year run as cable's highest-rated morning show.

Relationship with co-hosts and audience

Doocy's time on the "curvy couch" saw him develop his own style alongside co-hosts Ainsley Earhardt, Brian Kilmeade, and Lawrence Jones. The team appeared friendly on screen, though things weren't always smooth behind the scenes.

The Washington Post noted that "Doocy and Kilmeade generally get along off-camera, even as their interactions often seem heated on television".

People know Doocy as "the show's jovial, distant dad, greeting all comers with a bemused rictus". Fox News executives praise his exceptional connection with viewers, saying his "relationship with our audience is unmatched". Fox & Friends pulled in 1.5 million viewers in 2025, "easily beating CNN and MSNBC's morning programs combined".

Influence during the Trump presidency

The show's influence soared during the Trump administration, making it "the most powerful TV show in America". Trump watched and quoted the program on Twitter regularly. Analysts called this "a codependent relationship".

This relationship showed real policy effects. Trump's decisions about sending National Guard troops to the border and threatening a spending bill veto came right after Fox & Friends segments. Media analysts found "30 times President Donald Trump repeated talking points from Fox & Friends in 2018".

Why the show became a political powerhouse

Several factors drove the show's political influence:

• Its unique format mixing morning show cheerfulness with conservative political commentary
• The time slot (6-9 AM) coinciding with when presidents typically receive their first briefings
• Its consistent messaging that struck a chord with Trump's base

Trump rated reporters on a scale of 1 to 10, and Doocy scored an impressive "12 out of 10". All the same, Doocy showed his independence by challenging Republican orthodoxy and pushing back against GOP leaders.

Doocy turns 70 next year, leaving behind an exceptional morning television legacy as "the longest running co-host in network morning television other than Al Roker". His 27-year journey helped change a young cable news network into a political and cultural force while building his multi-million dollar fortune.

2025 Role Change: From Daily Host to Special Correspondent

Steve Doocy managed to keep his impressive $4 million salary at Fox News in May 2025. He cut back his workload after almost three decades of pre-dawn wake-up calls. The veteran broadcaster, now close to 70, moved from daily studio appearances to a more relaxed schedule.

Why Steve Doocy stepped back

Morning television consumed 29 years of Doocy's life – including 27 years on Fox & Friends. "It's a great job, but the hours suck," he said. The 3:30 AM alarm clock and dark commutes to Manhattan had worn him down.

He worked with Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott, "a friend for over 30 years," to create what he called "the Johnny Carson deal." This meant he would continue working on the show, "just not every day".

The deal let him stay a host without the daily grind. "I am not retiring. I'm not leaving the show. I'm still a host, but it's time for a change," Doocy said during his May 1st announcement.

New responsibilities and travel-based reporting

Doocy's new role took him to Florida full-time. He now co-hosts Fox & Friends remotely three days each week. He became the show's "coast-to-coast host" and started a mission "from cities and towns across the country to bring viewers exceptional access and insight to America's people, places and issues".

Florida offered a strategic advantage: "Florida is strategic. It's going to make it easier for me to report from Florida and other parts of America that don't get a lot of network airtime". His coverage now reaches "from the Carolinas to the Keys. From Middle America to Mar-a-Lago".

Impact on his work-life balance

Family time meant the most to Doocy. "When my kids were growing up, I never had breakfast with them. I was always here. Kathy did everything," he remembered. The new schedule gave him precious family moments: "Starting tomorrow, I'm going to have breakfast with my grandkids and my children whenever I can".

Family became even more important as Doocy's clan grew – his four grandchildren include his daughter Sally's second child, born in July 2025.

Doocy reassured his viewers that despite his reduced schedule, "you will still hear my voice and my opinions loud and clear". The only difference? His broadcasts now come from sunny Florida instead of the Manhattan studio.

Beyond the News Desk: Books, Family, and Real Estate

Steve Doocy expanded beyond his broadcasting career by creating multiple revenue streams through successful books, family connections, and mutually beneficial property investments that complement his Fox News salary.

Best-selling cookbooks and other publications

Steve Doocy and his wife Kathy have co-authored several New York Times bestsellers together. Their cookbook collection has "The Happy Cookbook," "The Happy in a Hurry Cookbook" (which debuted at #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list in 2020), and "The Simply Happy Cookbook." These beloved books feature family recipes and personal stories.

Doocy's writing extends beyond cookbooks with "The Mr. & Mrs. Happy Handbook" and "Tales from the Dad Side: Misadventures in Fatherhood," which shares his parenting adventures with humor. His perspective on fatherhood rings clear:

"I was there for every landmark in my children's lives, except the day I was on the riding lawn mower and missed my son's first words".

Family life and children, including Peter Doocy

Steve and Kathy Doocy's marriage since 1986 brought them three adult children: Peter, Sally, and Mary. Peter carved his own path in broadcasting as a Fox News White House correspondent. Their family's dinner times are the foundations of their closeness.

Steve reflected: "The dinner ritual was so important…I would do the dishes and the kids would stay at the table. They never bolted out of their chairs".

Real estate investments in New Jersey and Florida

Steve put his longtime Wyckoff, New Jersey home on the market for $1.8 million in 2025 after scaling back his work schedule. The property attracted buyers quickly and sold within a week. His move to Florida matched his career changes perfectly.

The relocation freed him from his 3:30 AM commute to Fox's Manhattan studio and allowed more family time, especially with his new granddaughter who arrived in February 2023.

Conclusion

Steve Doocy ranks among TV's highest-paid political commentators with his $4 million yearly salary at Fox News. His 2025 move to a new role after 27 years at Fox & Friends marks a big change, yet he keeps his substantial earnings. His broadcasting experience has helped him build both fame and fortune, with his net worth now between $11-14 million.

His story shows how staying power and flexibility pay off in broadcasting. He rose step by step from his Kansas roots to become a familiar face on national TV. His influence peaked during the Trump presidency when Fox & Friends became a direct channel to presidential policy decisions.

Doocy's new arrangement looks like a dream setup for late career – he keeps his full salary with better work-life balance. As a travel correspondent, he now gets more family time while still making valuable contributions to the network.

Smart planning led Doocy to expand beyond his Fox News income through bestselling cookbooks, speaking events, and property investments. These extra ventures have made his financial portfolio stronger and expanded his brand beyond political commentary.

Doocy's career path shows how to last long, pivot wisely, and manage money well in TV news. Not many broadcasters stay at one network this long while growing their pay to top levels. Even fewer cut back hours without losing income. He pulled off both feats, which makes him both a broadcasting icon and a clever media pro who built his value over decades.

FAQs

Q1. What is Steve Doocy's current salary at Fox News?

Steve Doocy earns an annual salary of $4 million at Fox News, making him one of the highest-paid political commentators on television.

Q2. How has Steve Doocy's role at Fox News changed in 2025?

In 2025, Doocy transitioned from a daily host to a special correspondent role, co-hosting Fox & Friends remotely three days a week from Florida while traveling to report from various locations across America.

Q3. What is Steve Doocy's estimated net worth?

Steve Doocy's total net worth is estimated to be between $11 million and $14 million, accumulated through his broadcasting career, book sales, and real estate investments.

Q4. How long has Steve Doocy been with Fox News?

Steve Doocy has been with Fox News for 29 years, joining the network in 1996 and serving as a co-host on Fox & Friends for 27 years.

Q5. What other ventures has Steve Doocy pursued outside of broadcasting?

Beyond his Fox News career, Doocy has co-authored several New York Times bestselling cookbooks with his wife, written books on fatherhood, and made strategic real estate investments in New Jersey and Florida.