You know the face that reports the weather to you on TV about tomorrow?
That’s Kim Adams.
She’s been on Detroit TV for over 25 years.
But have you ever considered how much she earns?
It’s a lot more than most people think weather folks earn.
She was Detroit’s first female television weatherperson.
Pretty cool, right?
Her story shows us how much TV stations value good weather experts.
Let’s look at how Kim built her career and what she earns today.
Kim Adams’ Current Salary – $93,577 to $186,475 Annually
Kim Adams makes between $93,577 and $186,475 each year at WDIV-TV.
She works as their evening weather person.
This pay is good for the weather reporters in big cities.
Most meteorologists in America make about $55,000, but Kim earns almost twice that much.
Her pay includes her base salary.
She might also receive extra compensation for covering major storms.
WDIV likes having Kim because people trust her.
She’s been doing this for a long time.
Kim also hosts a radio show called “Fearless Faith” on WMUZ 103.5, which pays her more than her TV job.
Her total income comes from both jobs.
This makes her one of the higher-paid weather people in Detroit.
Fun Fact: Kim Adams became Detroit’s first female TV meteorologist at WXYZ-TV in 1997, breaking barriers in a male-dominated field.
Salary Evolution Throughout Her Career
Kim started small.
Her first job was at WHIZ-TV in Ohio.
The pay was so low that she had to clean houses on weekends to pay bills.
Then she got her big break.
In 1997, she moved to WXYZ-TV in Detroit.
This was significant because she became the first woman to present the weather on Detroit TV.
Moving to Detroit changed everything for Kim.
Big-city TV pays significantly more than small-town stations.
In 2002, she joined WDIV-TV, and her salary increased again.
She stayed there for years, building a strong fan base.
Each job move brought better pay.
That’s how most TV people build their careers.
Kim left WDIV for a while, but she returned in August 2022, and they were happy to have her back.
Now, she also hosts her radio show, which generates income throughout the year, not just during TV seasons.
Her career has shown steady growth over 25 years, from cleaning houses to earning a six-figure salary.
Fun Fact: During her early career struggles, Adams worked multiple jobs, including house cleaning, to support her meteorology dreams.
Salary Breakdown by Income Streams
Most of Kim’s income comes from her job at WDIV-TV, where she earns between $93,577 and $186,475 annually.
TV work is her main source of income.
It pays the most and gives her the biggest platform.
Her second big money maker is her radio show, Fearless Faith, which she hosts on WMUZ 103.5.
Radio doesn’t pay as much as TV usually.
However, it’s steady work that continues throughout the year.
When big storms occur, she may receive extra pay for working longer hours.
Storm coverage is important work.
Kim also runs her own business, Kim Adams Productions, which might bring in some extra cash.
She sometimes speaks at events around town.
People pay to hear her talk about the weather and her career.
She doesn’t make money from reruns like actors do.
Her work is on live TV and radio.
Kim Adams’ Most Profitable Projects
Kim’s biggest money maker is her current job at WDIV-TV.
Being the evening reporter pays well.
Prime time TV jobs pay the most.
More people watch in the evening.
Her Emmy Award helped boost her value.
Winning awards shows she’s really good at her job.
Awards make you worth more money.
They prove you’re one of the best.
When she covers big storms, more people watch.
This makes her more valuable to the TV station.
Working at Local 4 Detroit gives her the best platform.
Lots of people see her every night.
Detroit is a big TV market.
Bigger markets pay more money.
Her radio show generates revenue throughout the year.
TV weather jobs can be seasonal, but radio weather jobs are generally steadier.
All these jobs together have made her successful in the Detroit media.
Fun Fact: Kim Adams appeared in a cameo role in the horror movie Scream 4, showing her versatility beyond weather forecasting.
Contract Details and Negotiation Highlights
Kim came back to WDIV-TV in August 2022.
She had been gone for 13 years.
Coming back after so long shows they really wanted her.
That gives you power in negotiations.
Her deal lets her do both TV and radio work.
That’s smart planning on her part.
WDIV wanted her back because people trust her.
When viewers like you, stations pay more.
She probably got a good agent to help with the talks.
Her years of work in Detroit helped her case.
The station bosses said nice things when she returned.
They called her a trusted voice.
She likely gets extra money when she works during bad weather.
Storm coverage is hard work.
Coming back to WDIV was a good move for her career and wallet.
Taxes and Take-Home Earnings
Kim doesn’t keep all the money she makes.
Nobody does because of taxes.
She probably keeps about 70-75% of what she earns.
The government takes the rest.
Federal taxes take a big chunk.
Then Michigan takes 4.25% for state taxes.
The good news is she can write off some work costs.
Things like travel and work clothes count.
She has been smart with her money over the years.
That’s how she built up her savings.
With jobs in different places, her tax situation becomes complicated.
She needs good help to do them right.
Fun Fact: Kim Adams, a breast cancer survivor and advocate, raises awareness for health causes, demonstrating her influence beyond weather forecasting.
Conclusion
So there you have it!
Not bad for telling us if we need an umbrella, right?
Her story is pretty cool.
She went from cleaning houses to winning Emmy Awards, demonstrating the power of hard work.
Kim is smart, too.
She doesn’t just do TV; her radio show provides her with steady income all year long.
The best part?
Kim cares about Detroit.
She’s not just reading the weather; she’s helping people stay safe.
If you want to do weather on TV, Kim’s story shows it’s possible.
You need to work hard and persevere.
Additionally, it helps to be exceptionally skilled at what you do.
