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Natalie Bomke (American Journalist)
Natalie Bomke’s salary reflects more than two decades of hard work, dedication, and a journalism career that has taken her from the newsrooms of small-town Illinois all the way to one of America’s most competitive media markets — Chicago. She is an Emmy-nominated broadcast journalist, currently co-anchoring Good Day Chicago on FOX 32 (WFLD-TV), and her name has become familiar to hundreds of thousands of viewers across the Chicago area every single morning.
Born on January 29, 1982, in Springfield, Illinois, Natalie Bomke is 43 years old and has spent her entire professional life in front of the camera — telling stories that matter. She did not stumble into this career. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2004, and within weeks of graduating, she was already on air. From Springfield to Sacramento, from Houston to Chicago, every stop on her journey built something bigger.
Along the way, she interviewed Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, helped put Chicago’s homeless crisis on the national map, won the prestigious Peter Lisagor Award in 2019 for her investigative reporting on veterans’ dental care, and earned the respect of her peers and viewers alike.
| Full Name | Natalie Jo-Mae Bomke |
| Date of Birth | January 29, 1982 |
| Place of Birth | Springfield, Illinois, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Profession | Broadcast Journalist, News Anchor, Reporter |
| Employer | WFLD-TV FOX 32, Chicago, Illinois |
| Education | B.S. in Broadcast Journalism, Concentration in Political Science — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2004) |
| Career Start | WICS NBC 20, Springfield, Illinois (2004) — General Assignment Reporter and Weekend Morning Anchor |
| Current Role | Co-Anchor, Good Day Chicago — WFLD-TV FOX 32, Chicago (Since September 2013) |
| Notable Coverage | Veterans’ Dental Care Crisis, California Homeless Population, Sacramento Housing Crisis, Veterans’ Mental Health, Illinois Community Stories |
| Marital Status | Married to Ed Swiderski (marketing technology executive; Bachelorette Season 5 winner) — July 25, 2015 |
| Children | Olive Mae (born May 23, 2020) |
| Awards | Chicago Headline Club Peter Lisagor Award (2019); Houston Press Club Lone Star Award — Best Television Documentary (2014); Texas AP Broadcasters — Best Morning Newscast (2012–2013); Emmy Nomination (2013–2014) |
| Estimated Salary | $90,000 – $100,000 annually (estimated; not officially confirmed) |
| Estimated Net Worth | Approximately $1 million (estimated; not officially confirmed) |
| Father | Larry Bomke (former Illinois State Senator; retired 2013) |
| Mother | Sally Jo Bomke (substitute teacher, Franklin Middle School, Springfield) |
| Siblings | Wulf Bomke (brother; Springfield Park District police officer) |
| Residence | Riverside, Illinois, United States |
Who is Natalie Bomke ?
Natalie Bomke is an Emmy-nominated news anchor and broadcast journalist for FOX 32 Chicago (WFLD-TV), where she co-anchors Good Day Chicago. Born and raised in Springfield, Illinois, she graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2004 and has spent more than two decades reporting on local news, community causes, and investigative stories.
Early Life and Education
Natalie Bomke was born on January 29, 1982, in Springfield, Illinois — a city she has always called home. She grew up in a family where public service was simply a way of life. Her father, Larry Bomke, served as a member of the Illinois State Senate for nearly two decades, retiring from politics in 2013. Her mother, Sally Jo Bomke, worked as a full-time teacher and continues to serve as a substitute teacher at Franklin Middle School in Springfield. Her brother, Wulf Bomke, followed a similar path of service and works as a police officer with the Springfield Park District.
As a child, Natalie was famously talkative — so much so that her mother once worried something might be wrong. Nothing was. It was simply the early sign of a broadcaster in the making.
School and University Education
Natalie completed her schooling in Springfield before enrolling at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism, with a concentration in Political Science. She remains a proud Fighting Illini fan to this day. Her university later honored her through the University of Illinois Alumni Association for her dedication to journalism and public service.
Early Personality and Notable Moments
Even before her career began, Natalie had already made her mark. She was a runner-up at the Miss Illinois pageant and once won a ribbon at the Illinois State Fair — for having the longest ponytail. Small moments, but they hint at a personality built for the spotlight.
Career
Natalie Bomke did not wait long after graduation. Within weeks of earning her degree from the University of Illinois in 2004, she was already on air. Her career did not happen overnight — it was built city by city, story by story, over more than two decades of consistent, serious broadcast journalism.
Early Career in Central Illinois (2004–2006)
Her first job came at WICS NBC 20 in her hometown of Springfield, Illinois, where she worked as a General Assignment Reporter and weekend morning anchor. It was a natural starting point — reporting on the community she grew up in. By December 2004, she moved to WICD ABC 15 in Champaign, Illinois, stepping into a morning anchor and reporter role. She stayed there through 2006, earning an honorable mention from the Illinois Associated Press for Best Light Feature — her first taste of industry recognition.
Sacramento and Houston — Growing Into a Major-Market Journalist (2007–2013)
In January 2007, Natalie made a bold move — she packed up and headed to Sacramento, California, to join KTXL Fox 40 as a morning and midday anchor. She was just 24 years old at the time, making her the youngest person ever to anchor the morning show at that station, which ranked as the No. 18 television market in the United States. She knew no one in Sacramento when she arrived. She stayed anyway, because she understood that growth requires risk.
Her work in Sacramento was memorable. She conducted a one-on-one interview with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger during state budget negotiations — a significant get for any journalist, let alone one in her mid-twenties. She also made national headlines by inviting former NBA player and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson to spend the night camping with homeless citizens, a story that put the city’s housing crisis on the national agenda.
By April 2010, she was on the move again — this time to Houston, Texas, joining KRIV Fox 26 as a morning news anchor. In Houston, she hosted the “Wake Up Money” consumer segment and the “Mind, Body and Soul” women’s feature. She also produced a powerful one-hour special on doctors using stem cells from a baby’s umbilical cord to treat cancer, and reported extensively on the mental health crisis facing military veterans.
Her Houston work earned serious recognition. The Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Association named her “Best Morning Newscast” for 2012–2013, and the Houston Press Club awarded her the Lone Star Award for Best Television Documentary in 2014. A Lone Star Emmy nomination followed as well.
FOX 32 Chicago — Reaching the City She Always Wanted (2013–Present)
In September 2013, Natalie Bomke finally came home to Illinois — this time to Chicago. She joined WFLD-TV FOX 32 as an anchor and reporter for Good Day Chicago, the station’s flagship morning program. She has described the moment she first saw the Chicago skyline as a resident — sitting in the back of a taxi cab, tears in her eyes — as one of the most emotional moments of her career.
At FOX 32, she co-anchors the morning broadcast from 4:30 to 10 AM and also serves as a breaking news reporter and digital media storyteller. Her most celebrated work here came through her investigation into the lack of dental care available to military veterans — a series that exposed the real financial and physical toll on those who served. That reporting earned her the Chicago Headline Club Peter Lisagor Award in 2019, one of the most prestigious honors in Chicago journalism. She has also been nominated for an Emmy for her broadcast journalism work. Beyond the studio, she regularly volunteers with PAWS Chicago, Treehouse Humane Society, and Harmony House for Cats, and proudly covers the Special Olympics — inspired in part by her cousin Theresa, a former Special Olympian.
Net Worth and Salary
Natalie Bomke’s salary is one of the most searched topics about her — and understandably so. She is one of Chicago’s most recognizable morning news faces, with more than two decades of broadcast experience behind her. So what does she actually earn?
All salary figures cited in this section are industry estimates derived from publicly available information and standard broadcast journalism compensation ranges. Natalie Bomke has not publicly disclosed her earnings, and these figures should be treated as approximations only.
Natalie Bomke Salary at FOX 32 Chicago
The honest answer is that no official salary figure has ever been publicly confirmed — not by Natalie Bomke herself, and not by FOX 32. Television contracts are private, and local news anchors rarely disclose their earnings publicly.
That said, multiple third-party sources and industry estimates place her annual salary somewhere between $90,000 and $100,000. Some sources cite a broader range of $45,000 to $110,500, which reflects the general pay variance across local TV anchors in major U.S. markets.
To put that in context — Chicago is one of the top three television markets in the United States. Anchors with Natalie’s level of experience, Emmy nominations, and award-winning investigative work typically sit at the higher end of the local anchor pay scale. The industry average for a seasoned anchor in a top-five market generally falls between $70,000 and $150,000 per year.
Her salary, whatever the exact figure, is the result of more than 20 uninterrupted years in paid broadcast journalism — starting in 2004 and continuing without a break across four different cities and five television stations.
Natalie Bomke Net Worth
Again, no verified net worth figure exists in the public record. Natalie Bomke has never publicly disclosed her personal finances. Third-party estimates vary widely — ranging from as low as $450,000 to as high as $5 million depending on the source — but the most consistently cited and credible estimate places her net worth at approximately $1 million.
Her wealth comes from multiple streams. Her primary income is her FOX 32 anchor salary. She is also a certified fitness instructor, which adds an additional income source. Her real estate activity also tells part of the story — she and her husband Ed Swiderski purchased a five-bedroom home in Logan Square, Chicago for $760,000 and later listed it for $995,000, eventually selling for $900,000 — a solid return on investment.
Natalie Bomke Net Worth
What matters as much as the number is what earned it. Natalie Bomke has never chased a bigger paycheck by jumping to a network or a flashier market. She has said publicly that she worked her entire career to get to Chicago — and once she got there, she stayed. That kind of loyalty to a market and an audience is rare in television news, and it speaks to what she values beyond the salary figure.
Personal Life and Family
Behind the anchor desk and the camera lights, Natalie Bomke is a wife, a mother, an animal lover, and a woman deeply connected to her roots. Her personal life is as full as her professional one — and the two have always informed each other in quiet but meaningful ways.
Natalie Bomke Age and Personal Background
Natalie Bomke was born on January 29, 1982, in Springfield, Illinois. She is currently 43 years old. Her star sign is Aquarius — and those who know her describe her as driven, warm, and fiercely loyal to the people and places she cares about, which fits the sign well enough.
She stands at 5 feet 5 inches tall and maintains an active, healthy lifestyle. She is a certified fitness instructor — not just in title, but in practice. Physical wellness has always been a real part of how she lives, not just something attached to her name.
Her look on screen is familiar to Chicago mornings — blonde hair, hazel eyes, and an energy that comes across as genuinely warm rather than performed. That authenticity is part of why viewers have followed her across so many years.
Husband Ed Swiderski — Love, Marriage and Partnership
Natalie met Ed Swiderski in January 2014. Ed is a marketing technology executive and a television personality in his own right — he is best known as the winner of Season 5 of ABC’s The Bachelorette. Two people with television in their DNA, finding each other in Chicago. It made a certain kind of sense.
Ed proposed later that same year during a visit to California’s Red Forest — a location that held meaning for Natalie, given the years she had spent in Sacramento building her career. She said yes.
The two were married on July 25, 2015, in a private outdoor ceremony on the 25th floor of Chicago’s iconic Tribune Tower. Around 100 guests attended. Their first dance as a married couple was to John Legend’s “All of Me” — a choice that felt personal rather than simply popular. It was a Chicago wedding in every sense — intimate, meaningful, and set against one of the city’s most recognizable backdrops.
Daughter Olive Mae and Family Life at Home
On May 23, 2020, Natalie and Ed welcomed their daughter, Olive Mae, into the world. She was born weighing 6 pounds, 10 ounces. Natalie has shared glimpses of Olive on her social media — enough for viewers to feel connected, but not so much that the child’s privacy is sacrificed. That balance says something about who Natalie is as a mother.
The family currently resides in Riverside, Illinois, a quiet suburb just outside Chicago. Their home is a lively one. Ed brought a Goldendoodle named Charlie into the marriage, and Natalie has added to the family over the years with several cats — including Mr. Bill, a four-eared cat she adopted from the Sacramento SPCA during her California years, who has traveled with her ever since. Additional cats have been adopted from the Humane Society along the way.
Her love of animals is not casual. She actively volunteers with PAWS Chicago, Treehouse Humane Society, and Harmony House for Cats — organizations she hosts events for regularly. Her mother was famously fond of shelter animals too, having housed as many as 20 cats in the family home in rural Springfield at one point.
Family Roots and the Values She Carries
Natalie’s personal values trace directly back to her family. Her father Larry Bomke spent nearly two decades in the Illinois State Senate before retiring to focus on his insurance business. Her mother Sally Jo built a life around education and is still substitute teaching at Franklin Middle School in Springfield. Her brother Wulf serves as a police officer with the Springfield Park District.
Public service. Community. Showing up. These are not talking points for Natalie Bomke — they are inherited values, lived out in her journalism, her volunteerism, and the way she covers the stories most anchors might overlook. Her cousin Theresa, a former Special Olympian, has been a quiet but lasting source of inspiration for her consistent coverage of the Special Olympics and athletes with disabilities.
She has said it herself — she considers journalism a public service. And when you look at her family, it is easy to understand exactly where that belief came from.
FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Natalie Bomke
Key questions answered about the FOX 32 Chicago anchor, her salary, age, and personal life
Born Natalie Jo-Mae Bomke on January 29, 1982, in Springfield, Illinois, she graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2004 with a B.S. in Broadcast Journalism. She has spent over two decades covering major stories across Illinois, California, and Texas before landing her dream role in Chicago. She won the prestigious Chicago Headline Club Peter Lisagor Award in 2019 for her investigative reporting on veterans' dental care.
No official salary figure has been publicly confirmed by Natalie Bomke or FOX 32. Television contracts are private documents. The estimate is based on third-party industry sources and reflects the pay scale for an experienced, award-winning anchor in a top-three U.S. television market. Some sources cite a broader range of $45,000 to $110,500, accounting for general local TV anchor pay variance in major markets.
Her star sign is Aquarius. She has been active in broadcast journalism since graduating from the University of Illinois in 2004, making her one of the more experienced morning anchors currently working in the Chicago television market. Despite more than two decades on air, her exact birth date was not widely confirmed in early public records and was later corroborated across multiple sources.
The couple began dating in January 2014. Ed proposed during a visit to California's Red Forest, and they married on July 25, 2015, in a private outdoor ceremony on the 25th floor of Chicago's Tribune Tower. Approximately 100 guests attended, and the couple shared their first dance to John Legend's "All of Me." They have been together ever since and currently reside in Riverside, Illinois.
Olive Mae was born weighing 6 pounds, 10 ounces. Natalie has shared occasional glimpses of her daughter on social media while maintaining a healthy level of privacy around her child's life. Olive is currently being raised in Riverside, Illinois, alongside the family's pets — a Goldendoodle named Charlie and several cats including Mr. Bill, a four-eared cat Natalie adopted in Sacramento.
No official figure has been confirmed by Natalie Bomke. Her wealth comes primarily from her FOX 32 anchor salary, supplemented by her work as a certified fitness instructor and over two decades of uninterrupted employment in broadcast journalism. Real estate activity also factors in — she and Ed purchased a Logan Square home for $760,000 and later sold it for $900,000.
She is a proud Fighting Illini fan and has maintained a strong connection with her alma mater throughout her career. The University of Illinois Alumni Association formally recognized her dedication to journalism and public service. She describes her Illinois roots as central to both her identity and her professional values.
She has also received a Texas Associated Press Broadcasters "Best Morning Newscast" recognition for 2012–2013, an Illinois Associated Press honorable mention for Best Light Feature (2006), and an Emmy nomination for broadcast journalism in 2013–2014. Her most celebrated award remains the 2019 Peter Lisagor Award for her investigative series exposing the lack of dental care available to military veterans.
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