News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists: Entry-Level vs Senior Salary in Illinois (2024)

How does News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists salary grow from entry-level to senior in Illinois? State salary progression based on 2024 BLS data.

157% career growth potential

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • Illinois salary data • Updated 2026-04-06

Entry-Level (P10)
$30,460
$2,538/mo
Mid-Career (Median)
$45,590
$3,799/mo
Senior (P90)
$78,420
$6,535/mo

Illinois vs National Average

Entry-Level (P10)
$30,460
National: $31,783
-4.2%
Mid-Career (Median)
$45,590
National: $48,092
-5.2%
Senior (P90)
$78,420
National: $95,384
-17.8%

Salary Progression: Entry-Level to Senior

The salary range for News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists in Illinois spans from $30,460 at entry-level to $78,420 at senior level — a difference of $47,960 per year.

P10
$30K
P25
$35K
Median
$45K
P75
$57K
P90
$78K

Career Growth Premium: +157%

Senior News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalistss in Illinois earn $47,960 more per year than entry-level professionals.

Annual Difference
+$47,960
Monthly Difference
+$3,997
Hourly Difference
+$23.06
Growth Multiple
2.6x

Detailed Salary Breakdown by Experience Level

Complete percentile breakdown showing how News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists salary increases with experience in Illinois, from entry-level (10th percentile) to senior (90th percentile).

Experience Level Percentile Annual Salary Monthly Hourly
Entry-Level P10 $30,460 $2,538 $14.64
Early Career P25 $35,420 $2,952 $17.03
Mid-Career Median $45,590 $3,799 $21.92
Experienced P75 $57,400 $4,783 $27.60
Senior / Expert P90 $78,420 $6,535 $37.70
Key Insight

News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists in Illinois shows strong salary progression over a career. Entry-level professionals start around $30,460, while senior-level professionals earn $78,420 — a 157% increase. The biggest salary jump typically occurs between mid-career ($45,590) and experienced level ($57,400), suggesting that specialization and leadership responsibilities are the key drivers of higher pay.

How Illinois Compares to Other States

Where does Illinois rank for News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists senior-level salaries? Compare Illinois's P90 pay to other top-paying states.

1
$173,850
Entry: $36K
+376%
2
$173,250
Entry: $51K
+237%
3
$169,830
Entry: $36K
+366%
4
$169,440
Entry: $29K
+465%
5
$167,040
Entry: $38K
+332%
6
$136,100
Entry: $33K
+303%
7
$124,160
Entry: $36K
+240%
8
$119,560
Entry: $31K
+285%
9
$119,370
Entry: $26K
+349%
10
$112,970
Entry: $29K
+281%

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the entry-level salary for a News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists?

Entry-level News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalistss (10th percentile) earn approximately $30,460 per year, or $2,538 per month. Early-career professionals (25th percentile) earn around $35,420. Based on 2024 BLS OEWS data across all U.S. states.

How much does a senior News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists make?

Senior News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalistss (90th percentile) earn approximately $78,420 per year. Experienced professionals (75th percentile) earn around $57,400. This represents a career premium of 157% over entry-level pay.

What is the salary growth potential for a News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists?

The career salary growth potential for News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalistss is 157%. Entry-level professionals start at $30,460, while senior-level can earn up to $78,420 — a difference of $47,960 per year.

Which state pays the highest salary for senior News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalistss?

The highest-paying state for senior News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalistss is Illinois, where 90th-percentile salaries reach $78,420 per year. See the full state-by-state comparison above.

How are entry-level and senior News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists salaries determined?

We use BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024 data. The 10th percentile (P10) approximates entry-level pay — the salary that 90% of workers earn more than. The 90th percentile (P90) approximates senior/expert-level pay — only 10% of workers earn above this threshold. National averages are computed across all reporting U.S. states.

Related Salary Pages

About This Data

Salary percentile data for Illinois from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. P10 approximates entry-level compensation; P90 approximates senior/expert-level compensation. State averages differ from national averages due to regional variations in cost of living, demand, and workforce composition. Actual salaries vary based on employer, experience, education, certifications, and specific location within Illinois.

Our Methodology · Data Sources · Source: BLS OEWS

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