Best cities for a staff writer
The best cities for staff writers are Jersey City, NJ, Pittsburgh, PA, and Cleveland, OH, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for staff writers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for staff writers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a staff writer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for staff writers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for staff writers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a staff writer. While the absolute best city for staff writers is Jersey City, NJ, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for staff writers in 2024.
If you're looking for a staff writer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for staff writers in 2025
1. Jersey City, NJ
Total staff writer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $66,372 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location quotient: 8.68 2. Pittsburgh, PA
Total staff writer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $54,027 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location quotient: 3.78 3. Cleveland, OH
Total staff writer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $51,103 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Toledo, OH
Total staff writer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $50,323 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Detroit, MI
Total staff writer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $51,117 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Philadelphia, PA
Total staff writer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $55,263 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location quotient: 2.36 7. Columbus, OH
Total staff writer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $49,057 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Newark, NJ
Total staff writer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $66,359 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Boston, MA
Total staff writer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $63,477 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location quotient: 3.19 10. Washington, DC
Total staff writer jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $67,023 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location quotient: 18.82
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Best cities for staff writers
- Jersey City, NJ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Cleveland, OH
- Toledo, OH
- Detroit, MI
- Philadelphia, PA
- Columbus, OH
- Newark, NJ
- Boston, MA
- Washington, DC
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- (19 staff writer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a staff writer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jersey City, NJ | $66,372 | $40,000 | 264,152 | 5 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh, PA | $54,027 | $32,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
| 3 | Cleveland, OH | $51,103 | $30,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 4 | Toledo, OH | $50,323 | $30,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $51,117 | $30,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $55,263 | $33,000 | 1,567,872 | 2 |
| 7 | Columbus, OH | $49,057 | $30,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 8 | Newark, NJ | $66,359 | $40,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $63,477 | $39,000 | 673,184 | 4 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $67,023 | $40,000 | 681,170 | 19 |
| 11 | Seattle, WA | $63,507 | $37,000 | 704,352 | 2 |
| 12 | Durham, NC | $52,484 | $32,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 13 | Reno, NV | $52,960 | $32,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 14 | Cincinnati, OH | $47,161 | $29,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 15 | Raleigh, NC | $52,308 | $32,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 16 | Greensboro, NC | $51,879 | $32,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 17 | Milwaukee, WI | $48,523 | $29,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 18 | Winston-Salem, NC | $51,557 | $32,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 19 | Madison, WI | $48,205 | $29,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 20 | Minneapolis, MN | $51,006 | $30,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 21 | Saint Paul, MN | $51,004 | $30,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 22 | Charlotte, NC | $49,829 | $31,000 | 842,051 | 3 |
| 23 | New York, NY | $57,007 | $34,000 | 8,537,673 | 64 |
| 24 | Portland, OR | $53,814 | $32,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 25 | Virginia Beach, VA | $55,225 | $33,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 26 | Baltimore, MD | $60,437 | $36,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 27 | Norfolk, VA | $55,144 | $33,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 28 | Las Vegas, NV | $48,301 | $30,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 29 | North Las Vegas, NV | $48,254 | $30,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 30 | Chesapeake, VA | $54,894 | $33,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 31 | Anchorage, AK | $53,477 | $36,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 32 | Henderson, NV | $47,930 | $30,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 33 | Islip, NY | $57,048 | $34,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 34 | Hempstead, NY | $57,035 | $34,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 35 | Brookhaven, NY | $57,021 | $34,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 36 | Oyster Bay, NY | $57,014 | $34,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 37 | San Francisco, CA | $56,272 | $34,000 | 870,887 | 6 |
| 38 | Atlanta, GA | $46,084 | $29,000 | 472,522 | 4 |
| 39 | Nashville, TN | $41,748 | $26,000 | 660,388 | 5 |
| 40 | Buffalo, NY | $56,292 | $33,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 41 | Sacramento, CA | $56,218 | $34,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 42 | Oakland, CA | $56,130 | $34,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 43 | Scottsdale, AZ | $45,390 | $29,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 44 | Phoenix, AZ | $45,367 | $29,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 45 | Chicago, IL | $50,578 | $31,000 | 2,704,958 | - |
| 46 | Glendale, AZ | $45,363 | $29,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 47 | Wichita, KS | $42,899 | $27,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 48 | Stockton, CA | $55,707 | $33,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 49 | Fremont, CA | $55,666 | $33,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 50 | Mesa, AZ | $45,261 | $29,000 | 484,587 | - |
Highest paying cities for staff writers
| Rank | City | Avg. staff writer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $67,023 |
| 2 | Jersey City, NJ | $66,372 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $63,508 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $63,477 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $57,007 |
| 6 | Springfield, VA | $56,868 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $56,272 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $55,263 |
| 9 | Greenwich, CT | $54,564 |
| 10 | Burlington, VT | $53,945 |
| 11 | Portland, OR | $53,814 |
| 12 | Duluth, MN | $51,670 |
| 13 | Detroit, MI | $51,117 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $50,578 |
| 15 | Charlotte, NC | $49,829 |
| 16 | Columbus, OH | $49,057 |
| 17 | Waukesha, WI | $48,405 |
| 18 | Denver, CO | $46,780 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $46,084 |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $45,367 |
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Updated January 8, 2025