CreativeUpdated Q1 2026No state income tax

Journalist Salary
in Clarksville, TN

Research, write, and report news stories for print, digital, broadcast, and social media. Median salary in Clarksville: $43K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.

Median salary
$43K
per year
Take-home: $30K

Salary range in Clarksville

Entry level (25th)$31,000
Median (50th)$43,000
Senior (75th)$59,000
Top earner (90th)$84,000
Data freshness

Figures represent annual base salary in Clarksville, Tennessee. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →

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What the numbers say for Clarksville

Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.

17% discount vs national median

Journalists in Clarksville earn approximately 17% lower than the US national median for this role — a $9,000 discount on annual base salary. Clarksville's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 82 (US avg = 100).

No state income tax — $4K effective edge

Tennessee has no state income tax, which is worth roughly $3,999 per year at this salary level compared to a California Journalist on the same gross pay. A Clarksville Journalist would need to earn $47,409 in California to net the same take-home.

Rent eats 44% of take-home

Average 1-bedroom rent in Clarksville ($1,100/mo) consumes approximately 44% of an after-tax median Journalist salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home — a salary at the 75th percentile ($59K) brings that ratio into a more comfortable range here.

Key facts for Clarksville

Median salary
$43K
annual
Take-home pay
$30K
after fed/state tax
COL index
82
100 = US avg
State income tax
None
no-tax state
Avg 1BR rent
$1,100
per month
YoY growth
+1.5%
salary trend

Salary forecast: Clarksville Journalist to 2030

Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $43K by 2030.

Salary trend & forecast — Clarksville

Historical (2019–2025) + projected to 2030 based on BLS growth rates

HistoricalProjected
Journalist salary trend 2019–2030PROJECTED →$36K$39K$43K$46K$49K201920212023202520272029
2026
$44K
projected
2027
$45K
projected
2028
$46K
projected
2029
$47K
projected
2030
$49K
projected

Projections based on BLS Employment Projections 2022–2032 CAGR and WEF Jobs Report 2025. Not financial advice.

YearProjected median salaryvs today
2027 projected$43,000+$0
2028 projected$43,000+$0
2029 projected$43,000+$0
2030 projected$43,000+$0

Projections use compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from BLS occupational outlook data. Actual salaries may vary.

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Journalist Salary in Clarksville, Tennessee: Complete Guide (2026)

The median Journalist salary in Clarksville, TN is $43,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Clarksville–TN metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.

Salary range for Journalist in Clarksville

Entry-level Journalists in Clarksville with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $31,000 and $43,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $43,000 to $59,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $59,000 to $84,000 or more.

Cost of living in Clarksville for Journalists

Clarksville has a cost of living index of 82 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 18% further in Clarksville than the national average. Crucially, Tennessee has no state income tax — giving Clarksville-based Journalists an immediate 3–5% take-home pay advantage over workers in states like California (9.3%) or New York (6.85%).

Education requirements for Journalist

Bachelor's in Journalism or Communications. This role is 55% remote-eligible nationally, which can significantly expand the job market for Clarksville-based professionals.

Journalist salary in nearby cities

CityMedian salaryCOL index
Clarksville (current)$43K82
Nashville$55K102
Memphis$44K82
Knoxville$44K85
Chattanooga$46K88