The average salary for a journalist in Illinois is around $60,590 per year.
Avg Salary
Journalists earn an average yearly salary of $60,590.
Wages typically start from $36,680 and go up to $140,620.
21% above national average Updated in 2025
Journalist earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level journalist earnings begin at:
$67.61 per hour
$140,620 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level journalist earnings begin at:
$41.37 per hour
$86,060 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level journalist earnings begin at:
$29.13 per hour
$60,590 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level journalist earnings begin at:
$20.57 per hour
$42,790 per year
10th percentile
Starting level journalist earnings begin at:
$17.64 per hour
$36,680 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Journalist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Georgia | $81,910 |
| Nevada | $78,550 |
| Rhode Island | $74,570 |
| Maryland | $63,680 |
| Michigan | $62,760 |
| Tennessee | $62,390 |
| Virginia | $62,140 |
| Utah | $61,880 |
| Connecticut | $61,620 |
| Colorado | $60,770 |
| Illinois | $60,590 |
| New Jersey | $59,830 |
| Florida | $58,730 |
| North Carolina | $58,670 |
| Wisconsin | $57,530 |
| Hawaii | $56,730 |
| Delaware | $55,600 |
| Washington | $54,760 |
| New Mexico | $54,610 |
| Idaho | $51,190 |
| Louisiana | $50,750 |
| Maine | $50,090 |
| Oregon | $49,200 |
| California | $49,180 |
| Texas | $48,470 |
| New Hampshire | $48,450 |
| Oklahoma | $48,210 |
| Montana | $47,960 |
| South Carolina | $47,940 |
| Ohio | $47,880 |
| Indiana | $47,610 |
| Kentucky | $47,530 |
| Vermont | $46,970 |
| Missouri | $46,920 |
| Minnesota | $46,490 |
| Kansas | $45,870 |
| Mississippi | $45,240 |
| Massachusetts | $44,060 |
| Alaska | $43,820 |
| Iowa | $43,540 |
| South Dakota | $43,520 |
| Alabama | $43,440 |
| North Dakota | $43,420 |
| Arizona | $43,100 |
| Puerto Rico | $42,250 |
| Nebraska | $40,420 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,600 |
| Arkansas | $37,450 |
| Wyoming | $36,040 |
| West Virginia | $35,280 |
| Guam | $25,590 |
| District of Columbia | $105,390 |
| New York | $100,770 |
How do journalist salaries compare to similar careers?
Journalists earn 7% more than similar careers in Illinois. On average, they make more than television writers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Journalist salary | $61K |
| News anchor salary | $61K |
| Editor salary | $76K |
| Copywriter salary | $68K |
| Television writer salary | $68K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)