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The average salary for correspondents in the United States is $82,217 per year. Factors affecting this salary include location, years of experience, and the specific industry segment. For instance, correspondents working for major news outlets may earn more than those in smaller publications or freelance roles.
Correspondent salaries can vary significantly by state. For example, states like California and New York typically offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for media professionals. Conversely, states with lower living costs may offer salaries below the national average.
Job seekers can explore various opportunities in journalism, including positions with newspapers, television stations, and online media. Additionally, understanding salary trends over time allows candidates to negotiate better compensation.
Staying informed about the average correspondent salary and regional differences can greatly assist in career planning and job searching. Use this knowledge to find roles that align with your financial expectations.
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The average correspondent salary in New Jersey, Washington, and Vermont are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average correspondent salary states are Texas, Alabama, and Mississippi.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $108,828 | $52.32 |
| 2 | New York | $102,404 | $49.23 |
| 3 | Michigan | $97,938 | $47.09 |
| 4 | Vermont | $104,609 | $50.29 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $112,444 | $54.06 |
| 6 | Washington | $105,375 | $50.66 |
| 7 | Maine | $104,281 | $50.14 |
| 8 | Kentucky | $92,327 | $44.39 |
| 9 | Missouri | $85,506 | $41.11 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $97,006 | $46.64 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $94,095 | $45.24 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $94,343 | $45.36 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $97,754 | $47.00 |
| 14 | Nevada | $83,831 | $40.30 |
| 15 | Ohio | $91,969 | $44.22 |
| 16 | Oregon | $84,835 | $40.79 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $77,423 | $37.22 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $79,040 | $38.00 |
| 19 | Maryland | $97,818 | $47.03 |
| 20 | Iowa | $78,257 | $37.62 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $92,235 | $44.34 |
| 22 | Delaware | $93,998 | $45.19 |
| 23 | Virginia | $83,587 | $40.19 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $77,385 | $37.20 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $74,758 | $35.94 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $77,475 | $37.25 |
| 27 | Illinois | $80,894 | $38.89 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $80,847 | $38.87 |
| 29 | Montana | $73,792 | $35.48 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $83,042 | $39.92 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $76,228 | $36.65 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $73,131 | $35.16 |
| 33 | Idaho | $75,141 | $36.13 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $70,504 | $33.90 |
| 35 | Utah | $78,233 | $37.61 |
| 36 | Indiana | $74,877 | $36.00 |
| 37 | Alaska | $69,091 | $33.22 |
| 38 | Arizona | $72,234 | $34.73 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $72,400 | $34.81 |
| 40 | California | $71,597 | $34.42 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $72,105 | $34.67 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $69,917 | $33.61 |
| 43 | Texas | $66,093 | $31.78 |
| 44 | Kansas | $68,203 | $32.79 |
| 45 | Alabama | $65,849 | $31.66 |
| 46 | Colorado | $70,880 | $34.08 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $45,793 | $22.02 |
| 48 | Georgia | $68,811 | $33.08 |
| 49 | Florida | $64,028 | $30.78 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $64,319 | $30.92 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $61,641 | $29.64 |
The highest-paying cities for correspondents are Washington, DC, New York, NY, and Arlington, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $109,428 | $52.61 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $103,070 | $49.55 |
| 3 | Arlington, VA | $87,081 | $41.87 |
| 4 | Minneapolis, MN | $83,149 | $39.98 |
| 5 | Springfield, MO | $81,765 | $39.31 |
| 6 | Duluth, GA | $69,935 | $33.62 |
| 7 | El Paso, TX | $68,304 | $32.84 |
| 8 | Glendale, CA | $68,065 | $32.72 |
| 9 | Tampa, FL | $65,770 | $31.62 |
A correspondent's salary ranges from $50,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $134,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $134,000 | $11,167 | $64 |
| 75th Percentile | $106,000 | $8,833 | $51 |
| Average | $82,217 | $6,851 | $40 |
| 25th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
| 10th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
The highest paying types of correspondents are sports anchor, sports reporter, and anchor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| News Writer | $45,129 | $3,761 | $21.70 | 17,010 |
| Business Reporter | $45,788 | $3,816 | $22.01 | 54,760 |
| Anchor | $70,715 | $5,893 | $34.00 | 2,986 |
| News Reporter | $41,481 | $3,457 | $19.94 | 11,609 |
| Sports Anchor | $96,351 | $8,029 | $46.32 | 2,108 |
| Video Journalist | $68,280 | $5,690 | $32.83 | 7,141 |
Top companies hiring correspondents now:
Correspondent salaries at American Broadcasting Company and Law360 are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average correspondent salary at companies like Thales and The Boston Globe are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Broadcasting Company | $118,069 | $56.76 |
| 2 | Law360 | $114,329 | $54.97 |
| 3 | Thales | $114,232 | $54.92 |
| 4 | The Boston Globe | $110,703 | $53.22 |
| 5 | Thomson Reuters | $110,347 | $53.05 |
| 6 | Ranker | $104,831 | $50.40 |
| 7 | Dow Jones | $100,225 | $48.19 |
| 8 | Reuters | $98,730 | $47.47 |
| 9 | The Associated Press | $90,943 | $43.72 |
| 10 | Hearst | $82,067 | $39.46 |
| 11 | POLITICO | $80,260 | $38.59 |
| 12 | Fletcher Thompson | $76,699 | $36.87 |
| 13 | Medical Billing | $75,280 | $36.19 |
| 14 | Overseas | $73,813 | $35.49 |
| 15 | Middle East Broadcasting Network | $69,710 | $33.51 |
| 16 | The Forward Association | $66,105 | $31.78 |
| 17 | Paramount | $65,640 | $31.56 |
| 18 | McClatchy | $64,450 | $30.99 |
| 19 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $62,766 | $30.18 |
| 20 | New America | $61,654 | $29.64 |
The average correspondent salary has risen by $17,017 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average correspondent earned $65,200 annually, but today, they earn $82,217 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for correspondents over the last decade.
Compare correspondent salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare correspondent salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $82,200 | $39.53 | +3.4% |
| 2025 | $79,400 | $38.19 | +2.9% |
| 2024 | $77,100 | $37.09 | +4.6% |
| 2023 | $73,600 | $35.39 | +3.9% |
| 2022 | $70,700 | $34.00 | +3.9% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edgewater Technical Associates | Correspondence Control (Secretary II) | Richland, WA | 06/21/2025 | $43,493 |
| Hearst | White House Correspondent | Washington, DC | 06/10/2025 | $118,000 |
| The New York Times Company | Phoenix Correspondent | Phoenix, AZ | 06/09/2025 | $124,980 |
| The New York Times Company | Domestic Correspondent, Editorial, Opinion | New York, NY | 06/09/2025 | $124,980 |
| The New York Times Company | Phoenix Correspondent | Phoenix, AZ | 05/27/2025 | $124,980 |
| Hearst | White House Correspondent | Washington, DC | 05/26/2025 | $118,000 |
| Shelter Insurance | Life Policy Correspondent | Columbia, MO | 05/25/2025 | $39,298 |
| Nbcuniversal | Correspondent | Los Angeles, CA | 05/20/2025 | $140,000 |
| The New York Times Company | Supreme Court Correspondent | Washington, DC | 05/10/2025 | $124,980 |
| NBC Universal | Correspondent | Los Angeles, CA | 04/29/2025 | $140,000 |
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