Best cities for an investigative reporter
The best cities for investigative reporters are Cleveland, OH, Milwaukee, WI, and Lexington, KY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for investigative reporters vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for investigative reporters in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an investigative reporter or considering a move, this list of the best cities for investigative reporters to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for investigative reporters. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an investigative reporter. While the absolute best city for investigative reporters is Cleveland, OH, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for investigative reporters in 2024.
If you're looking for an investigative reporter job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for investigative reporters in 2025
1. Cleveland, OH
Total investigative reporter jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $75,628 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 3.59 2. Milwaukee, WI
Total investigative reporter jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $71,495 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location quotient: 14.48 3. Lexington, KY
Total investigative reporter jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $77,190 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Detroit, MI
Total investigative reporter jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $77,683 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Louisville, KY
Total investigative reporter jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $75,722 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Toledo, OH
Total investigative reporter jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $74,090 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Madison, WI
Total investigative reporter jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $70,443 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location quotient: 9.43 8. Columbus, OH
Total investigative reporter jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $73,507 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Nashville, TN
Total investigative reporter jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $64,882 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location quotient: 4.35 10. New York, NY
Total investigative reporter jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $91,401 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location quotient: 1.92
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Best cities for investigative reporters
- Cleveland, OH
- Milwaukee, WI
- Lexington, KY
- Detroit, MI
- Louisville, KY
- Toledo, OH
- Madison, WI
- Columbus, OH
- Nashville, TN
- New York, NY
- (1 investigative reporter jobs)
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- (11 investigative reporter jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an investigative reporter
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland, OH | $75,628 | $44,000 | 385,809 | 1 |
| 2 | Milwaukee, WI | $71,495 | $42,000 | 595,047 | 5 |
| 3 | Lexington, KY | $77,190 | $45,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 4 | Detroit, MI | $77,683 | $45,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 5 | Louisville, KY | $75,722 | $44,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 6 | Toledo, OH | $74,090 | $43,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 7 | Madison, WI | $70,443 | $41,000 | 252,551 | 3 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $73,507 | $43,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 9 | Nashville, TN | $64,882 | $38,000 | 660,388 | 2 |
| 10 | New York, NY | $91,401 | $53,000 | 8,537,673 | 11 |
| 11 | Saint Louis, MO | $73,305 | $43,000 | 311,404 | 2 |
| 12 | Brookhaven, NY | $91,749 | $54,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 13 | Islip, NY | $91,663 | $54,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 14 | Oyster Bay, NY | $91,582 | $54,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | $74,878 | $43,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 16 | Hempstead, NY | $91,510 | $54,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 17 | Sacramento, CA | $83,038 | $48,000 | 495,234 | 7 |
| 18 | Albuquerque, NM | $68,185 | $40,000 | 559,277 | 2 |
| 19 | Jersey City, NJ | $89,049 | $52,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 20 | Reno, NV | $74,188 | $43,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 21 | Newark, NJ | $89,017 | $52,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 22 | Seattle, WA | $81,263 | $48,000 | 704,352 | 1 |
| 23 | Cincinnati, OH | $70,237 | $41,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 24 | Durham, NC | $68,432 | $40,000 | 263,016 | 1 |
| 25 | Pittsburgh, PA | $72,296 | $42,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 26 | Buffalo, NY | $87,847 | $51,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 27 | Memphis, TN | $62,378 | $37,000 | 652,717 | 1 |
| 28 | Kansas City, MO | $71,733 | $42,000 | 481,420 | - |
| 29 | Las Vegas, NV | $69,780 | $41,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 30 | North Las Vegas, NV | $69,669 | $41,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 31 | Boston, MA | $76,740 | $45,000 | 673,184 | 1 |
| 32 | Henderson, NV | $69,427 | $40,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 33 | Bakersfield, CA | $79,198 | $46,000 | 376,380 | 3 |
| 34 | Raleigh, NC | $68,328 | $40,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 35 | Washington, DC | $85,614 | $50,000 | 681,170 | 4 |
| 36 | Chicago, IL | $72,071 | $42,000 | 2,704,958 | 2 |
| 37 | Greensboro, NC | $67,592 | $39,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 38 | Winston-Salem, NC | $67,046 | $39,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 39 | San Francisco, CA | $83,289 | $48,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 40 | Oakland, CA | $83,153 | $48,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 41 | Fremont, CA | $82,857 | $48,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 42 | Stockton, CA | $82,674 | $48,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 43 | San Jose, CA | $82,660 | $48,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 44 | Baltimore, MD | $78,568 | $45,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 45 | Charlotte, NC | $64,065 | $37,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 46 | Indianapolis, IN | $59,510 | $35,000 | 855,164 | 1 |
| 47 | Oklahoma City, OK | $62,363 | $37,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 48 | Fort Wayne, IN | $61,786 | $36,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 49 | Phoenix, AZ | $64,191 | $38,000 | 1,615,017 | 1 |
| 50 | Fresno, CA | $81,113 | $47,000 | 522,053 | - |
Highest paying cities for investigative reporters
| Rank | City | Avg. investigative reporter salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $91,401 |
| 2 | Bergenfield, NJ | $89,122 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $85,614 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $83,038 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $78,568 |
| 6 | Needham, MA | $76,985 |
| 7 | Cleveland, OH | $75,628 |
| 8 | Grand Rapids, MI | $75,457 |
| 9 | New Haven, CT | $73,676 |
| 10 | Saint Louis, MO | $73,305 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $72,071 |
| 12 | Green Bay, WI | $71,986 |
| 13 | Arlington, VA | $69,861 |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $69,780 |
| 15 | Durham, NC | $68,432 |
| 16 | Albuquerque, NM | $68,185 |
| 17 | Knoxville, TN | $66,753 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $64,191 |
| 19 | Austin, TX | $59,835 |
| 20 | Bismarck, ND | $59,320 |
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Updated January 8, 2025