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Journalist Salary in Illinois

Explore journalist salaries in Illinois including median pay, entry-level and senior compensation, and how it compares to the national average.

Median Salary in IL
$58,758
Monthly: $4,897
Biweekly: $2,260
Entry Level
$34,080
Monthly: $2,840
Biweekly: $1,311
Senior Level
$88,137
Monthly: $7,345
Biweekly: $3,390
Job Growth
14%
Projected 10-year growth

Salary Breakdown

Pay PeriodEntry LevelMedianSenior
Annual$34,080$58,758$88,137
Monthly$2,840$4,897$7,345
Biweekly$1,311$2,260$3,390
Weekly$655$1,130$1,695
Hourly$16$28$42

IL vs National Comparison

National Median
$55,960
IL Median
$58,758
Difference
+$2,798
Multiplier
1.05x
National
IL

About This Career

Research and write news stories for publications.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Journalism or related field

Key Skills

WritingResearchInterviewingCritical Thinking

Compare States

See how Illinois compares to other states for journalist salaries:

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Compare Jobs

Compare salaries for other creative & media jobs in Illinois:

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Explore Related Data for a Journalist in Illinois

Dig into every angle of a journalist salary ($58,758 median) in Illinois — take-home pay, affordability, taxes, mortgage, retirement, and city-level data.

Take-home pay on $58,758 in Illinois

Federal, state, Social Security, and Medicare — what you keep after taxes.

What you can afford on $58,758 in Illinois

Home price, rent, and monthly spending guidelines for this income.

Tax brackets on $58,758 in Illinois

Exactly which federal and state brackets your salary crosses.

$250,000 mortgage in Illinois

Monthly payment, property tax, and total interest at typical rates.

Retirement at 30 earning $60,000

Savings benchmarks and projections for your income level.

Journalist salary in Chicago

Drill down to city-level salary data for Chicago, Illinois.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median journalist salary in Illinois?

The median journalist salary in Illinois is $58,758, compared to a national median of $55,960.

What is the entry-level journalist salary in Illinois?

Entry-level journalist positions in Illinois typically pay around $34,080 annually.

What is the senior journalist salary in Illinois?

Senior journalist professionals in Illinois earn around $88,137 annually.

What is the job growth outlook for journalist?

The projected 10-year job growth outlook for journalist positions is 14%, which indicates strong demand in this field.

What education is needed to become a journalist?

Bachelor's degree in Journalism or related field

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