David Highfield KDKA-TV, Husband, Gay, Surgery, Height, and Net Worth
David Highfield
David Highfield is a seasoned American journalist and television anchor, currently serving as the morning news anchor for KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He also co-hosts the lifestyle talk show “Pittsburgh Today Live” alongside Heather Abraham. With over three decades at KDKA, Highfield has become a respected figure in Pittsburgh’s media landscape.
David Highfield Age and Birthday
David Highfield is 52 years old as of 2025. He was born on September 28, 1972, in Ford City, Pennsylvania, United States. He celebrates his birthday each year on September 28.
Education
Highfield is an alumnus of Syracuse University, where he earned his degree in broadcast journalism.
Height
Specific details about David Highfield’s height are not publicly available.
David Highfield maintains an active presence on Facebook, where he shares updates about his professional endeavors and personal life.
David Highfield’s Mother
David is the son of the late Judith “Judy” Gail Highfield, who passed away on March 31, 2017, at her home in Pennsylvania. Judy was born on March 22, 1934, to Reuben and Ramona Heilman. She attended Elderton High School and later earned a degree in elementary education from Indiana State Teacher’s College. Judy devoted over twelve years of her career to teaching first grade in Leechburg, Pennsylvania.
Husband
David Highfield is married to Gary Kline, a former faculty member at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama. The couple has been together for over 19 years and celebrated their 9th wedding anniversary in 2024.
Wedding
Highfield and Kline tied the knot in 2015, marking a significant milestone in their long-standing relationship.
David Highfield Gay
David Highfield is openly gay and has been a prominent figure in advocating for LGBTQ+ representation in media.
Illness and Surgery
In the past, Highfield underwent surgery, though specific details about the procedure are not publicly disclosed. He received well-wishes from colleagues and viewers during his recovery.
David Highfield – KDKA Career Overview
Highfield is a longtime and beloved journalist at KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, currently serving as co-anchor of Pittsburgh Today Live and co-host of the station’s evening newsmagazine Your Pittsburgh, alongside Heather Abraham. His journey with KDKA began in 1991 when he joined the station as a writer. He was soon promoted to producer, and within a few years, transitioned to reporting, first as the Westmoreland County Bureau Chief and later as the Beaver/Butler Bureau Chief. Over time, he became a familiar face as an evening reporter and fill-in anchor. In 2020, he was promoted to anchor KDKA News at Noon.
Awards
Throughout his distinguished career, David has earned 12 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards for both reporting and hosting. He’s also a two-time recipient of the prestigious regional Edward R. Murrow Award—one for an investigative report on the potential link between Marcellus Shale drilling and earthquakes, and another for examining why smoke alarms often fail to wake children.
In addition to his Emmy and Murrow accolades, David has been honored with multiple Golden Quill Awards, several Pennsylvania Associated Press Broadcasters Association awards, and a Matrix Award for his coverage of regional flooding. He created, hosted, and executive produced the Emmy-winning series Your Pittsburgh, which ran for several years and highlighted compelling stories from across the city.
International and National News
David has covered major national and international news events, including visits from Popes Francis and Benedict XVI, the Virginia Tech shootings in 2007, Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath in New Orleans, the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue tragedy, the crash of Flight 427, the 9/11 attacks (reporting from both the Pentagon and Shanksville), and the shooting rampage by Richard Baumhammers in 2000.
His reporting has reached national audiences as well, with segments airing on WCBS in New York, KCBS in Los Angeles, WBBM in Chicago, and even CBS This Morning, where he delivered live updates on drought conditions.
In recognition of his contributions to journalism and his community, David was inducted into the Ford City Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Armstrong County Sports Hall of Fame in 2013 for his impactful sports coverage.
Outside the newsroom, David is deeply committed to local charitable causes. He’s volunteered time and support to numerous organizations including the KDKA-TV Turkey Fund, Animal Friends, the Persad Center, Hair Peace, the American Red Cross, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and the Progressive Workshop of Armstrong County.
In 2009, David also stepped in front of the camera in a different role—playing a reporter in the short film Tommy and Me, produced by Fleadh Films to benefit Operation Safety Net, an organization supporting the homeless.
David Highfield Salary
Highfield’s annual salary is estimated to be between $85,000 and $130,000, reflecting his extensive experience and contributions to the field of journalism.
Net Worth
With a career spanning over three decades, David Highfield has an estimated net worth ranging from $1 million to $5 million, accumulated through his work in broadcasting and journalism.
