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Kelly Sasso (American Journalist)
Kelly Sasso is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, news anchor, and reporter who has built her career from the ground up in one of America’s most competitive industries — television news. Born and raised in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, she always dreamed of one day sitting behind the anchor desk at WTAE, Pittsburgh’s own Action News 4. That dream came true. Today, she anchors the 4PM and 6PM evening newscasts for the very station she watched as a little girl growing up in Westmoreland County.
Her journey was not overnight. Kelly started small — interning at Hearst Television stations, performing as a Disney Princess at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando during college breaks, and working her way up through newsrooms in Arkansas before finally coming home to Pittsburgh. She graduated from Point Park University in Downtown Pittsburgh with a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism, and that education, combined with years of on-the-ground reporting, shaped her into the journalist she is today.
One moment defined her early career. While working at 40/29 News in Fayetteville, Arkansas, she produced a powerful 30-minute special chronicle exposing the cycle of child abuse that led to the tragic death of a six-year-old girl. That story earned her a Mid-America Emmy Award — one of journalism’s most respected recognitions. It also proved she was ready for bigger stages.
She joined WTAE in April 2017 as a Traffic Reporter and Noon Anchor. Within two years, she was handling morning traffic, breaking news, and noon broadcasts. She now leads the station’s 4PM and 6PM newscasts, covering everything from local Pittsburgh stories to major breaking news events. Off camera, Kelly is married to attorney Nicolas J. Sasso — her high school sweetheart — and the couple welcomed their son, Ayven Perry Sasso, making their family of two a family of three.
| Full Name | Kelly Elizabeth (birth name); Kelly Sasso (professional/married name) |
| Date of Birth | December 31, 1985 |
| Place of Birth | Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Profession | Journalist, News Anchor, Reporter |
| Employer | WTAE-TV (Pittsburgh’s Action News 4) |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism, Point Park University, Downtown Pittsburgh |
| High School | Hempfield High School, Greensburg, Pennsylvania |
| Career Start | Intern at WESH (Hearst Television), Orlando, Florida (2008) |
| Current Role | Evening News Anchor — 4PM and 6PM Newscasts, WTAE-TV Pittsburgh |
| Notable Coverage | G-20 Summit Coverage (Pittsburgh), Child Abuse Special Chronicle (Emmy-winning), Breaking News Anchor WTAE |
| Marital Status | Married to Nicolas J. Sasso (attorney); married August 15, 2011 |
| Children | Ayven Perry Sasso (son; born April 1, 2023) |
| Awards | Mid-America Emmy Award (2016); Multiple AP Awards |
| Estimated Net Worth | Not officially confirmed; third-party estimates vary widely |
| Salary | Estimated $50,000 – $110,500 annually (not officially confirmed) |
| Siblings | Not publicly available |
| Parents | Not publicly available |
Early Life and Education
Kelly Sasso was born on December 31, 1985, in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania — a small city just outside of Pittsburgh. She was born and raised there by her American parents, who were supportive of her ambitions from an early age. Growing up in the Pittsburgh area, she developed a genuine love for local news. As a little girl, she would watch WTAE — the very station she now anchors — never imagining that one day she would sit behind that same desk. That childhood connection to Pittsburgh news is not just a fun fact. It is the foundation of everything she later built.
She attended Hempfield High School in Greensburg, where she graduated in 2005. Even during those early years, her passion for broadcasting was impossible to ignore. She began anchoring morning announcements at school — a small but telling sign of where her career was heading. While most teenagers were figuring out their futures, Kelly was already practicing.
College Education at Point Park University
After high school, she enrolled at Point Park University, located in the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh — a campus she chose specifically for its strong broadcasting facilities and emphasis on journalism as a hands-on major. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism there. During her time at Point Park, she stayed deeply involved in student-produced programming, with a particular focus on Point News Now, where she both anchored and reported. The experience was not just academic. The classes pushed her to go out, shoot stories, and write under tight deadlines — sometimes alone, sometimes in a team — which she has credited as the exact preparation needed for her first real job in news.
Career
Kelly’s professional journey began long before she ever held a full-time reporting job. During her college years at Point Park University, she interned at two Hearst Television stations. Her first internship was at WESH in Orlando, Florida, in 2008. A year later, she returned closer to home and contributed to coverage of the historic G-20 Summit at WTAE in Pittsburgh — a major international event that gave her early exposure to high-stakes, large-scale news reporting.
During those same college years, she also worked at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, where she performed as a fairy-tale princess in live shows and parades. It was a unique chapter — far from a newsroom — but it built her confidence on camera and in front of large audiences. Those who know broadcasting understand that presence matters. Kelly was building hers early.
40/29 News — Fayetteville, Arkansas
After completing her education and early internships, Kelly took her first full-time position at 40/29 News, the Hearst Television station based in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She started as a general assignment reporter — the entry point for most television journalists — covering a wide range of stories on tight deadlines. She then moved into morning anchoring before eventually earning the prime-time anchor chair.
Her time in Arkansas was not just about climbing the ladder. It was about doing meaningful work. She covered difficult, important stories — and one in particular changed her career. She produced and reported a powerful 30-minute special chronicle that exposed the devastating cycle of child abuse behind the tragic death of a six-year-old girl. That story earned her a Mid-America Emmy Award in 2016 — one of the most respected honors in regional television journalism. Alongside the Emmy, she collected multiple AP Awards for special projects and newscasts during her tenure at 40/29 News, building a record that spoke for itself.
Joining WTAE Pittsburgh — Coming Home
In April 2017, Kelly joined Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 — WTAE — as a Traffic Reporter and Noon Anchor. It was the moment she had worked toward since childhood. The station she watched as a little girl in Greensburg was now her professional home. She did not slow down after arriving. By mid-2019, she had expanded her responsibilities to include morning traffic reports and breaking news coverage — among the most demanding roles in local television, requiring sharp focus and quick decision-making under pressure. She covered all breaking news events, morning traffic, and noon broadcasts across Pittsburgh with consistency and credibility.
At present, Kelly anchors the 4PM and 6PM evening newscasts on WTAE, making her one of the most visible and recognized journalists in the Pittsburgh market. Her career at WTAE spans roles from traffic reporter to prime-time evening anchor — a full and well-earned progression that reflects over a decade and a half of dedicated work in local television news.
Kelly Sasso's Salary and Net Worth
Kelly has built a long and decorated career in local television journalism, and her compensation reflects that experience. Based on estimates reported across various public sources, her annual salary is believed to range from $50,000 to $110,500 per year. It is important to note that these are third-party estimates only. Neither Kelly nor WTAE has publicly confirmed an official salary figure. Local television anchor salaries vary based on market size, experience, and role — and as a prime-time evening anchor in a major Pennsylvania market, Kelly’s compensation is generally considered to sit at the higher end of local news pay scales.
Career Earnings in Context
To understand Kelly’s earning potential, it helps to understand the market she works in. Pittsburgh is one of Pennsylvania’s largest television markets, and WTAE is one of its most-watched stations. Anchors in markets of this size and visibility typically earn more than those in smaller regional markets. Kelly’s combination of experience — over fifteen years in the industry, a Mid-America Emmy Award, multiple AP Awards, and a prime-time anchor role — places her among the more established and valued journalists in her market. While exact figures remain private, her career trajectory strongly suggests consistent and growing professional compensation throughout her time in the industry.
Personal Life and Family
Kelly’s love story is one that started long before the cameras and the newsroom. She met Nicolas J. Sasso during her school years in Greensburg, Pennsylvania — he was her high school sweetheart. The couple officially married on August 15, 2011, turning a young friendship into a lifelong partnership.
Nicolas is not just a supportive spouse — he has built a strong professional life of his own. He is an attorney who joined the respected Pittsburgh law firm Strassburger McKenna Gutnick and Gefsky after previously practicing law at another firm. The couple shares a deep connection to Pittsburgh, with both building their careers in the city they call home.
Their relationship has always been a quiet and steady one. Kelly does not use her platform to overshare personal details, and Nicolas maintains a similarly private profile. What is publicly known paints a picture of two driven, rooted professionals who have grown together since their teenage years — a genuine Pittsburgh love story.
Welcoming Son Ayven Perry Sasso
For years, Kelly and Nicolas were a family of two. That changed in a moment that Kelly chose to share openly with her audience. On April 1, 2023, the couple welcomed their son, Ayven Perry Sasso. Kelly announced the birth on her Facebook page, sharing the news with the Pittsburgh community that has followed her career for years.
Becoming a mother added a new and meaningful chapter to Kelly’s life. She has spoken about the importance of balance — maintaining mental and physical health in a career as demanding as live television news. Parenthood, by all indications, fits naturally into the life she and Nicolas have built together in Pittsburgh.
Ayven Perry Sasso is currently the couple’s only publicly known child.
Personal Interests and Lifestyle
Away from the anchor desk, Kelly lives by values that reflect genuine intention. On her verified social media profiles, she describes herself as a minimalist and a vegan — two choices that speak to a deliberate, health-conscious way of living. In an industry known for its chaos and unpredictability, Kelly appears to have found her balance through simplicity and purpose.
Her hobbies reflect an adventurous spirit. She enjoys traveling, skiing, and riding motorcycles — activities she has shared with Nicolas over the years. These are not the pastimes of someone who clocks out and disappears — they are the interests of someone who brings energy and curiosity into every part of life, on screen and off.
Kelly has also spoken honestly about the demands of working in local television news. Early mornings, breaking news alerts, and emotionally difficult stories are part of the job. She has emphasized that taking care of mental and physical health during downtime is not optional — it is essential. That perspective, grounded and practical, is very much in line with the journalist Pittsburgh has come to know and trust.
FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Kelly Sasso
Key questions answered about the WTAE Pittsburgh anchor and her public life
Born on December 31, 1985, in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, she built her career from the ground up — starting as a college intern, working as a prime-time anchor in Arkansas, and ultimately returning home to Pittsburgh to anchor at the very station she watched as a child. She is also a recipient of the Mid-America Emmy Award and multiple AP Awards for her journalism work.
Nicolas is Kelly's high school sweetheart. The couple married on August 15, 2011, in a private ceremony. Nicolas practices law and is associated with the Pittsburgh firm Strassburger McKenna Gutnick and Gefsky. The couple welcomed their son, Ayven Perry Sasso, on April 1, 2023.
She was born and raised in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and holds American citizenship by birth. Her ethnic background has been noted across multiple public biography sources as white, though Kelly herself has not made a specific public statement on the matter.
Kelly announced the birth of her son publicly through her Facebook page, sharing the news with her Pittsburgh audience. Ayven Perry Sasso is currently the couple's only publicly known child.
Third-party biography and media websites have published a wide range of estimated figures, but these vary significantly and are not based on any officially disclosed financial information. Her net worth, whatever it may be, has been built over a career spanning more than fifteen years in local television journalism — including roles at 40/29 News in Arkansas and her long-term anchor position at WTAE Pittsburgh.
She joined WTAE in April 2017 as a Traffic Reporter and Noon Anchor. By mid-2019 she had expanded into morning traffic and breaking news roles. At present, she anchors the station's prime-time evening newscasts, making her one of Pittsburgh's most recognized television journalists.
She chose Point Park specifically for its strong broadcasting facilities and hands-on journalism emphasis. During her time there, she was actively involved in student-produced programming, particularly Point News Now, where she anchored and reported. She has credited her Point Park education as the direct preparation she needed to succeed in her first professional news job.
The Emmy Award was earned for a 30-minute special chronicle she produced and reported at 40/29 News in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The special exposed the devastating cycle of child abuse that led to the tragic death of a six-year-old girl — a story that earned wide recognition and cemented her reputation as a serious, impactful journalist. Her AP Awards were also earned during her tenure at 40/29 News for special projects and newscasts.
Kelly has referenced this chapter of her life publicly and even describes herself as a "Former Disney Princess" on her verified social media profiles. It was an experience that helped build her on-camera confidence and stage presence long before she ever sat behind a news desk.
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