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Bureau chief salary
Average bureau chief salary
$105,391
Understanding Bureau Chief Salaries
The role of a Bureau Chief is critical in managing a news organization or department. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is $105,391 per year. Factors influencing this salary include geographical location, the specific industry, and years of experience. For instance, Bureau Chiefs in metropolitan areas typically earn higher wages due to the cost of living.
Salary Variations by State
Salaries can differ significantly by state. For example, Bureau Chiefs in states like California and New York often report higher earnings compared to those in less populated regions. Additionally, industries such as technology and finance tend to offer more competitive salaries.
Career Advancement Opportunities
For those aspiring to become a Bureau Chief, gaining experience in journalism and management is essential. Opportunities for advancement are prevalent in larger news organizations, where you can develop your skills in leadership and strategic planning. Understanding salary trends and requirements can enhance your career path and help you negotiate better compensation packages.
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Where can a Bureau Chief earn more?
Bureau chief salary estimates from across the web
Average bureau chief salary by state
The highest-paying states for bureau chiefs are New York, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. The lowest average bureau chief salary states are Hawaii, Missouri, and Louisiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for bureau chiefs
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $136,972 | $65.85 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $137,496 | $66.10 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $121,596 | $58.46 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $112,214 | $53.95 |
| 5 | Virginia | $105,902 | $50.91 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $118,467 | $56.96 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $97,458 | $46.85 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $108,434 | $52.13 |
| 9 | Illinois | $109,990 | $52.88 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $102,603 | $49.33 |
| 11 | Washington | $99,940 | $48.05 |
| 12 | California | $103,171 | $49.60 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $98,111 | $47.17 |
| 14 | Vermont | $98,059 | $47.14 |
| 15 | Maryland | $102,487 | $49.27 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $94,024 | $45.20 |
| 17 | Maine | $96,371 | $46.33 |
| 18 | Delaware | $95,086 | $45.71 |
| 19 | Michigan | $95,918 | $46.11 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $97,001 | $46.64 |
| 21 | Nevada | $93,152 | $44.78 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $99,913 | $48.04 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $101,369 | $48.74 |
| 24 | Texas | $92,643 | $44.54 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $94,593 | $45.48 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $98,077 | $47.15 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $95,087 | $45.71 |
| 28 | Arizona | $91,308 | $43.90 |
| 29 | Georgia | $94,220 | $45.30 |
| 30 | Ohio | $94,179 | $45.28 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $94,143 | $45.26 |
| 32 | Iowa | $90,563 | $43.54 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $89,419 | $42.99 |
| 34 | Utah | $90,477 | $43.50 |
| 35 | Alabama | $85,993 | $41.34 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $86,714 | $41.69 |
| 37 | Oregon | $74,225 | $35.69 |
| 38 | Colorado | $86,373 | $41.53 |
| 39 | Montana | $71,317 | $34.29 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $84,275 | $40.52 |
| 41 | Florida | $73,020 | $35.11 |
| 42 | Idaho | $77,532 | $37.27 |
| 43 | Alaska | $68,280 | $32.83 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $70,780 | $34.03 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $69,539 | $33.43 |
| 46 | Indiana | $78,199 | $37.60 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $72,684 | $34.94 |
| 48 | Kansas | $73,444 | $35.31 |
| 49 | Missouri | $70,283 | $33.79 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $64,118 | $30.83 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $61,935 | $29.78 |
Highest paying cities for bureau chiefs
The highest-paying cities for bureau chiefs are Washington, DC, New York, NY, and Newington, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $138,339 | $66.51 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $137,818 | $66.26 |
| 3 | Newington, CT | $121,651 | $58.49 |
| 4 | Concord, NH | $117,762 | $56.62 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $110,120 | $52.94 |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $107,891 | $51.87 |
| 7 | Silver Spring, MD | $102,387 | $49.22 |
| 8 | Trenton, NJ | $101,464 | $48.78 |
| 9 | Atlanta, GA | $94,970 | $45.66 |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | $94,179 | $45.28 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $91,586 | $44.03 |
| 12 | Houston, TX | $90,934 | $43.72 |
| 13 | Ottumwa, IA | $90,774 | $43.64 |
| 14 | Greenville, NC | $90,677 | $43.59 |
| 15 | Tallahassee, FL | $79,014 | $37.99 |
| 16 | Indianapolis, IN | $78,235 | $37.61 |
| 17 | Coeur dAlene, ID | $76,634 | $36.84 |
| 18 | Helena, MT | $71,313 | $34.29 |
| 19 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $71,024 | $34.15 |
| 20 | Cape Girardeau, MO | $70,419 | $33.86 |
Bureau chief salary details
A bureau chief's salary ranges from $70,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $158,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a bureau chief's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $158,000 | $13,167 | $76 |
| 75th Percentile | $130,000 | $10,833 | $63 |
| Average | $105,391 | $8,783 | $51 |
| 25th Percentile | $85,000 | $7,083 | $41 |
| 10th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
Highest paying bureau chief jobs
The highest paying types of bureau chiefs are president/chief executive officer, president & chief operating officer, and senior vice president.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-Owner | $86,704 | $7,225 | $41.68 | 52,915 |
| Owner | $90,334 | $7,528 | $43.43 | 86,486 |
| Co-Founder | $105,022 | $8,752 | $50.49 | 4,214 |
| Operations Vice President | $163,076 | $13,590 | $78.40 | 147,465 |
| Deputy Director | $100,190 | $8,349 | $48.17 | 41,439 |
| Chief Operating Officer | $136,604 | $11,384 | $65.67 | 128,993 |
Top companies hiring bureau chiefs now:
Which companies pay bureau chiefs the most?
Bureau chief salaries at Bloomberg and The Washington Post are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average bureau chief salary at companies like Fox News and TAD PGS are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bloomberg | $148,408 | $71.35 |
| 2 | The Washington Post | $133,336 | $64.10 |
| 3 | Fox News | $118,530 | $56.99 |
| 4 | TAD PGS | $111,287 | $53.50 |
| 5 | New York State Restaurant Association | $111,160 | $53.44 |
| 6 | Npr | $110,905 | $53.32 |
| 7 | Munro Shoes | $109,156 | $52.48 |
| 8 | POLITICO | $108,690 | $52.25 |
| 9 | Gray Television | $102,970 | $49.50 |
| 10 | Los Angeles Times | $102,773 | $49.41 |
| 11 | Washington, D.C. | $101,417 | $48.76 |
| 12 | Office of Hawaiian Affairs | $98,184 | $47.20 |
| 13 | WMSN FOX 47 News, Madison | $96,424 | $46.36 |
| 14 | Longwood University | $93,315 | $44.86 |
| 15 | Iowa State Association of Counties | $91,586 | $44.03 |
| 16 | State of Connecticut | $90,026 | $43.28 |
| 17 | Mergermarket | $83,245 | $40.02 |
| 18 | City of New York | $80,213 | $38.56 |
| 19 | Iowa Department of Transportation | $77,540 | $37.28 |
| 20 | City of Houston | $75,640 | $36.37 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Bureau chief salary trends
The average bureau chief salary has risen by $18,318 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average bureau chief earned $87,073 annually, but today, they earn $105,391 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for bureau chiefs over the last decade.
Compare bureau chief salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average bureau chief salary over time
Compare bureau chief salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Bureau chief salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $105,000 | $50.67 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $102,000 | $49.05 | +3.1% |
| 2023 | $98,900 | $47.54 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $97,700 | $46.97 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $95,100 | $45.72 | +2.1% |
Recently added bureau chief salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genesee County | Bureau Chief (Appeals Division) | Flint, MI | 06/27/2025 | $119,559 |
| State of Kansas | Assistant Bureau Chief (PSE IV) | Johnson City, KS | 06/25/2025 | $75,150 |
| The Agency | Bureau Chief of Programming-(Public Service Administrator) | Springfield, MO | 06/19/2025 | $124,992 |
| State of Illinois | Technical Operations Bureau Chief (Senior Public Service Administrator, OPT. 3) | Springfield, IL | 06/18/2025 | $126,000 |
| Dow Jones | Bureau Chief, LOS Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | 06/13/2025 | $175,000 |
| The Baltimore Sun | Bureau Chief, Maryland Counties | Baltimore, MD | 06/12/2025 | $70,000 |
| The Baltimore Sun | Bureau Chief, Baltimore City | Baltimore, MD | 05/30/2025 | $70,000 |
| Dasstateoh | Bureau of Program Integrity Chief | Columbus, OH | 05/28/2025 | $94,536 |
| State of Ohio | Bureau of Program Integrity Chief | Columbus, OH | 05/26/2025 | $94,536 |
| Job & Family Services | Bureau of Program Integrity Chief | Columbus, OH | 05/23/2025 | $94,536 |
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