Stark was a news intern for the "CBS Evening News with Dan Rather" in 1993 and 1994 where she wrote scripts and assembled background information on investigative pieces for health correspondent Dr. Bob Arnot.

Stark joined ESPN in 1996 as the host of the weekly program Scholastic Sports America, where she traveled across the United States covering high school and college sports focusing on human interest and issue-related stories. From 1996–03, Stark reported for ESPN's SportsCenter, where she served as a regular reporter to Sunday NFL Countdown and the Emmy Award-winning show, Outside the Lines. Stark was also the SportsCenter on-site host for the NBA Finals, World Series, Stanley Cup Finals, Final Four and covered national stories including Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, golf and NCAA basketball for the network.

Melissa Stark joined ABC Sports in June 2000. She was the lead sideline reporter for ABC Sports' Monday Night Football for three seasons, from 2000-03, which included ABC's coverage of Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego. Stark also served as a reporter for ABC Sports' coverage of figure skating, the NFL Pro Bowl and celebrity golf events.

In July 2003, she joined NBC News as a National Correspondent for The Today Show and would also anchor MSNBC Live. She made her NBC Sports debut in 2004 contributing reports and interviews for the network’s coverage of the Triple Crown and other big horse racing events for the network. She also hosted MSNBC's coverage of the 2009 Super Bowl. Melissa Stark did work her third Olympic Games for NBC Sports serving as an anchor for MSNBC's coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics. Previously, Stark served as the speed skating reporter during NBC's coverage of the Torino Olympics Winter Games and the swimming and diving reporter at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Melissa Stark has also done field work for NFL Network, more specifically, the shows NFL Total Access and Around The League Live.