News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Median annual salary $60,850 +0.9% vs national
Median hourly $29.26
10th percentile $34,220
90th percentile $163,950
Employed locally 980
National median $60,280

Compare News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Chicago, IL-IN stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
in
Chicago, IL-IN
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $34,220
    25th
    $38,500
    50th (median)
    $60,850
    75th
    $98,460
    90th
    $163,950

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists salary vs area income 68% Median News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists salary is 32% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Waterbury-Shelton, CT $138,910
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $104,270
    New York $103,810
    District of Columbia $103,350
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $102,240
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $99,730

    Nearby metros — News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $74,820
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $63,690
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $62,590
    Knoxville, TN $60,290
    Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $59,950
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $59,030

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Coaches and Scouts$47,770
    Graphic Designers$62,490
    Public Relations Specialists$63,910
    Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$38,640
    Editors$71,600
    Producers and Directors$78,490

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists in Chicago, IL-IN is $29.26, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $102.57 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists salaries?

    The median News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 0.9% above the national median of $60,280. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists in Chicago?

    Entry-level News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists (10th percentile) earn around $34,220 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $38,500.