How much do journalists get paid?

I'd like to know how much a freelance journalist would get paid.

Someone who is still studying journalism.

Someone who has graduated but isn't fully employed.

Would they get paid per article or per word?

If so how much?

Reason why I ask is I am looking to hire some and need to know what a fair wage would be!

Depends. Typically they get paid by the word, but it depends on their reputation, the length of the piece, the publication they're writing for etc. etc.

Hey as a Journalism student and having worked for the Guardian newspaper I can tell you the average payment for a graduate on a regional newspaper is around £12,000-£14,000 P.A. a national newspaper tends to pay on the role you're doing, experience and your profile. Everyone on the majors like the regionals offer different salaries which tend to be competitive. Freelancers are obviously paid differently - it entirely depends who you're writing for - some will pay by the word and then edit down your article to a couple hundred words which leaves you feeling rather short changed for your efforts and others can pay anything up to hundreds and on the rare occasion thousands (wish that would happen to me) Copywriting is also good money but the real money is in Broadcast Journalism and PR. Most Journalism students who are cutting their teeth are 'expected' to do it for free as a way of getting your foot in the door.