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Visual Journalist Salary in the United States

How much does a Visual Journalist make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Visual Journalist in the United States is $97,038 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $47.

However, a Visual Journalist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $115,650
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $85,400 to $106,780
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $74,804
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Visual Journalist Salaries

A Visual Journalist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Visual Journalist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Visual Journalist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $69,091
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $85,957
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $99,463
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $121,743
  • Expert (over 8 years): $157,874
Levels Salary
Data Anal... Level Visual Journalist$69,091
Data Anal... Level Visual Journalist$85,957
Visual Jo... Level Visual Journalist$99,463
Data Anal... Level Visual Journalist$121,743
Data Anal... Level Visual Journalist$157,874
View as Graph

How Do Visual Journalist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Visual Journalists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $107,440.
  • California: $107,033.
  • Massachusetts: $105,606.

Top Paying Cities for Visual Journalists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $122,394
  • San Francisco: $121,054
  • Oakland: $118,503

Visual Journalist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Visual Journalist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 38% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Internet and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 18% above the average. In contrast, Visual Journalist positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Visual Journalist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Visual Journalist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Internet$114,505$55.018%
Energy & Utilities$111,594$54.015%
Biotechnology$108,682$52.012%
Healthcare$106,742$51.010%
Aerospace & Defense$104,801$50.08%

Visual Journalist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Visual Journalist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$85,400
Average $97,038/year
$106,780
$7,117
Average $8,086/month
$8,898
$1,642
Average $1,866/week
$2,053
$41
Average $47/hour
$51
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $106,780 $8,898 $2,053 $51
Average $97,038 $8,086 $1,866 $47
25th Percentile $85,400 $7,117 $1,642 $41

Most common benefits for Visual Journalist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Visual Journalist

Here are companies hiring for Visual Journalist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Visual Journalist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Visual Journalist?

The Internet industry offers the highest average compensation for Visual Journalist roles, with salaries approximately 18% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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