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Best states for a staff reporter
Quoted expert
Brant Houston
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like staff reporters are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for staff reporters aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for staff reporter jobs.
The median salary for staff reporters in New York is $61,997. Compare that to the median salary in Alaska of $31,316, which ranked worst for staff reporters, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the West is best for staff reporters, and the Northeast is the worst. Washington, DC is the best city in the country for staff reporter jobs, where as New York is the best state in the country.
10 best states for staff reporters in 2026
1. New York
Total staff reporter jobs: 1,246 Average annual salary: $61,997 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
2. Pennsylvania
Total staff reporter jobs: 1,523 Average annual salary: $51,532 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 1.8
3. District of Columbia
Total staff reporter jobs: 168 Average annual salary: $62,405 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
4. New Jersey
Total staff reporter jobs: 774 Average annual salary: $60,790 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
5. Rhode Island
Total staff reporter jobs: 129 Average annual salary: $50,445 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 1.46
6. Maine
Total staff reporter jobs: 139 Average annual salary: $50,957 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
7. Massachusetts
Total staff reporter jobs: 1,182 Average annual salary: $50,372 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1.77
8. Maryland
Total staff reporter jobs: 518 Average annual salary: $55,525 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
9. Ohio
Total staff reporter jobs: 801 Average annual salary: $50,132 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
10. Vermont
Total staff reporter jobs: 61 Average annual salary: $51,874 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
Staff reporter jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a staff reporter
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a staff reporter
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $61,997 | $35,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,246 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $51,532 | $29,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,523 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $62,405 | $35,000 | 693,972 | 168 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $60,790 | $34,000 | 9,005,644 | 774 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $50,445 | $29,000 | 1,059,639 | 129 |
| 6 | Maine | $50,957 | $30,000 | 1,335,907 | 139 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $50,372 | $29,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,182 |
| 8 | Maryland | $55,525 | $31,000 | 6,052,177 | 518 |
| 9 | Ohio | $50,132 | $29,000 | 11,658,609 | 801 |
| 10 | Vermont | $51,874 | $30,000 | 623,657 | 61 |
| 11 | Michigan | $52,892 | $30,000 | 9,962,311 | 521 |
| 12 | Washington | $49,285 | $28,000 | 7,405,743 | 623 |
| 13 | Missouri | $45,685 | $28,000 | 6,113,532 | 473 |
| 14 | Delaware | $52,421 | $29,000 | 961,939 | 69 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $49,282 | $28,000 | 3,588,184 | 249 |
| 16 | Kentucky | $50,048 | $29,000 | 4,454,189 | 226 |
| 17 | Nevada | $43,725 | $24,000 | 2,998,039 | 214 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $46,508 | $27,000 | 1,342,795 | 128 |
| 19 | Illinois | $42,543 | $25,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,183 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $41,728 | $25,000 | 4,684,333 | 279 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $43,817 | $25,000 | 1,815,857 | 101 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $43,209 | $26,000 | 6,715,984 | 398 |
| 23 | Virginia | $48,226 | $27,000 | 8,470,020 | 582 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $44,031 | $25,000 | 10,273,419 | 615 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $41,569 | $25,000 | 5,576,606 | 531 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $40,354 | $25,000 | 3,004,279 | 197 |
| 27 | Arizona | $41,493 | $24,000 | 7,016,270 | 459 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $42,401 | $25,000 | 2,088,070 | 132 |
| 29 | Oregon | $40,345 | $22,000 | 4,142,776 | 408 |
| 30 | Alabama | $38,802 | $24,000 | 4,874,747 | 352 |
| 31 | Georgia | $40,869 | $25,000 | 10,429,379 | 753 |
| 32 | Indiana | $39,773 | $23,000 | 6,666,818 | 470 |
| 33 | Iowa | $39,897 | $24,000 | 3,145,711 | 256 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $40,658 | $24,000 | 5,795,483 | 345 |
| 35 | Florida | $38,362 | $23,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,186 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $38,858 | $25,000 | 3,930,864 | 179 |
| 37 | Texas | $37,568 | $23,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,405 |
| 38 | California | $44,622 | $24,000 | 39,536,653 | 113 |
| 39 | Utah | $36,521 | $22,000 | 3,101,833 | 228 |
| 40 | Kansas | $35,855 | $23,000 | 2,913,123 | 215 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $35,665 | $22,000 | 1,920,076 | 165 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $36,713 | $23,000 | 2,984,100 | 100 |
| 43 | Colorado | $34,377 | $22,000 | 5,607,154 | 447 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $28,202 | $18,000 | 1,427,538 | 69 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $36,363 | $21,000 | 5,024,369 | 263 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $36,103 | $22,000 | 755,393 | 26 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $35,275 | $22,000 | 579,315 | 35 |
| 48 | Idaho | $34,771 | $20,000 | 1,716,943 | 112 |
| 49 | Montana | $33,043 | $20,000 | 1,050,493 | 83 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $34,198 | $21,000 | 869,666 | 28 |
| 51 | Alaska | $31,316 | $18,000 | 739,795 | 39 |
Highest paying states for staff reporters
| Rank | State | Avg. Staff Reporter Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $61,997 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $51,532 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $62,405 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $60,790 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $50,445 |
| 6 | Maine | $50,957 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $50,372 |
| 8 | Maryland | $55,525 |
| 9 | Ohio | $50,132 |
| 10 | Vermont | $51,874 |
| 11 | Michigan | $52,892 |
| 12 | Washington | $49,285 |
| 13 | Missouri | $45,685 |
| 14 | Delaware | $52,421 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $49,282 |
| 16 | Kentucky | $50,048 |
| 17 | Nevada | $43,725 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $46,508 |
| 19 | Illinois | $42,543 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $41,728 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $43,817 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $43,209 |
| 23 | Virginia | $48,226 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $44,031 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $41,569 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $40,354 |
| 27 | Arizona | $41,493 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $42,401 |
| 29 | Oregon | $40,345 |
| 30 | Alabama | $38,802 |
| 31 | Georgia | $40,869 |
| 32 | Indiana | $39,773 |
| 33 | Iowa | $39,897 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $40,658 |
| 35 | Florida | $38,362 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $38,858 |
| 37 | Texas | $37,568 |
| 38 | California | $44,622 |
| 39 | Utah | $36,521 |
| 40 | Kansas | $35,855 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $35,665 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $36,713 |
| 43 | Colorado | $34,377 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $28,202 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $36,363 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $36,103 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $35,275 |
| 48 | Idaho | $34,771 |
| 49 | Montana | $33,043 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $34,198 |
| 51 | Alaska | $31,316 |
Expert opinions on the best states for staff reporters
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for staff reporters to find work opportunities?
Brant Houston
Professor and Knight Chair in Investigative & Enterprise Reporting Director of Graduate Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Any place with healthy nonprofit newsrooms and more than 250 (you can find them listed the Institute for Nonprofit News) across the country is an excellent place to look, and the pay is often more than at for-profits these days. One area where there are many nonprofits in Chicago.
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Updated January 8, 2025