The average salary for a sports writer in Illinois is around $34,610 per year.
Avg Salary
Sports writers earn an average yearly salary of $34,610.
Wages typically start from $31,460 and go up to $51,080.
48% below national average Updated in 2025
Sports writer earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level sports writer earnings begin at:
$24.56 per hour
$51,080 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level sports writer earnings begin at:
$18.26 per hour
$37,980 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level sports writer earnings begin at:
$16.64 per hour
$34,610 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level sports writer earnings begin at:
$15.32 per hour
$31,870 per year
10th percentile
Starting level sports writer earnings begin at:
$15.12 per hour
$31,460 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Sports writer salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $54,740 |
| New Jersey | $48,260 |
| Massachusetts | $47,720 |
| Wisconsin | $47,250 |
| California | $44,860 |
| Washington | $42,180 |
| Ohio | $38,460 |
| Kentucky | $37,910 |
| Michigan | $37,720 |
| Nevada | $37,500 |
| Iowa | $37,440 |
| Arizona | $35,640 |
| Minnesota | $35,370 |
| Maryland | $35,230 |
| Illinois | $34,610 |
| Colorado | $34,450 |
| Connecticut | $34,420 |
| Florida | $34,160 |
| South Carolina | $33,650 |
| Indiana | $32,730 |
| Kansas | $31,550 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,690 |
| Texas | $30,660 |
| North Dakota | $30,640 |
| South Dakota | $30,620 |
| Alaska | $30,250 |
| Nebraska | $29,670 |
| Mississippi | $28,340 |
| Virginia | $27,410 |
| Louisiana | $26,620 |
| Delaware | $26,460 |
| Oregon | $22,780 |
| Oklahoma | $22,420 |
| Alabama | $22,280 |
| Montana | $22,030 |
| West Virginia | $19,740 |
| New Mexico | $19,380 |
How do sports writer salaries compare to similar careers?
Sports writers earn 31% less than similar careers in Illinois. On average, they make less than athletic trainers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Athletic trainer salary | $65K |
| Exercise physiologist salary | $60K |
| Sports referee salary | $49K |
| Fitness trainer salary | $47K |
| Proofreader salary | $50K |
| Sports writer salary | $35K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)