Data · Washington × Journalists

Women Journalists in Washington: Pay, Gap, and Numbers

Women are 47% of working US journalists but produce less than 40% of bylined stories in many major outlets. This page applies Washington’s overall wage environment to the national BLS median earnings for journalists to estimate the state-level pay gap.

Earnings estimate — Journalists in Washington

$74K
Estimated median annual — male journalists, Washington
BLS CPS 2024 × state ACS
$59K
Estimated median annual — female journalists, Washington
BLS × ACS S2001
21.0%
Estimated pay gap for journalists in Washington
Derived from BLS + ACS
$16K
Annual gap in dollars per worker
Computed at median

Methodology: The state pay gap is estimated by applying Washington’s overall female-to-male earnings ratio adjustment (-5.6% vs national) to the national BLS median for female journalists. See Pay Gap Lookup for interactive comparison.

National baseline

$74K
US median annual — male journalists
BLS CPS 2024 Table 39
$62K
US median annual — female journalists
BLS CPS 2024 Table 39
83.7%
Women’s share of men’s pay (national, journalists)
BLS CPS 2024
27-3023
BLS SOC code
Standard Occupational Classification

Washington context

Washington’s overall women-to-men earnings ratio is 79.1%, ranking #38 of 51 US jurisdictions on pay equity. 49.7% of the state legislature is women (CAWP 2024); 5 women from Washington serve in the 119th US Congress. First woman governor: 1977.

Other professions in Washington

Women journalists in neighboring & key states

Related pages

Frequently asked

What is the median salary for female journalists in Washington?

Estimated at $58,704 per year, derived from the BLS national median for female journalists ($62,192) adjusted by Washington’s overall wage environment (-5.6% vs national).

What is the pay gap for journalists in Washington?

Estimated at 21.0%, or about $15,604 per year per worker at the median. This applies the state-level wage environment to the national BLS profession gap.

How does Washington compare nationally on pay equity?

Washington ranks #38 of 51 US jurisdictions on the overall female-to-men earnings ratio (Census ACS S2001).

What BLS occupation code applies here?

27-3023 (SOC, Standard Occupational Classification, 2018 revision). See BLS CPS Table 39 for the current national median weekly earnings.

Are these numbers adjusted for experience?

No — these are state-level medians across all experience levels. Use the Pay Gap Lookup tool for experience-adjusted estimates.