Editor salary in the U.S.
Editors in the U.S. earn a median of $77,920 a year ($37.46 an hour), based on BLS data for 91,690 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $153,700 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $90,060, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for editors in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,250 | $19.83 |
| 25th percentile | $57,300 | $27.55 |
| Median | $77,920 | $37.46 |
| 75th percentile | $106,100 | $51.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $153,700 | $73.90 |
| Average (mean) | $90,060 | $43.30 |
Half of editors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,493.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,246.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,996.92 |
| Weekly | $1,498.46 |
| Hourly | $37.46 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Editor salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $101,480 | 16,800 |
| California | $98,030 | 14,830 |
| Connecticut | $85,950 | 1,050 |
| District of Columbia | $83,920 | 3,310 |
| Massachusetts | $83,170 | 3,100 |
| New Jersey | $81,680 | 2,120 |
| Virginia | $80,590 | 2,720 |
| Rhode Island | $77,960 | 340 |
| Colorado | $77,870 | 1,830 |
| Washington | $77,850 | 1,860 |
| Georgia | $76,650 | 1,920 |
| Illinois | $76,060 | 4,560 |
| Maryland | $75,550 | 1,850 |
| Delaware | $75,020 | 170 |
| Florida | $73,950 | 3,790 |
| North Carolina | $73,740 | 1,870 |
| Nevada | $72,510 | n/a |
| Ohio | $72,160 | 1,800 |
| Oregon | $71,540 | 1,110 |
| Vermont | $66,860 | 240 |
| New Hampshire | $66,510 | 250 |
| Utah | $65,040 | 590 |
| Wisconsin | $64,270 | 1,510 |
| New Mexico | $64,250 | 230 |
| Alaska | $63,630 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,460 | 3,240 |
| Alabama | $63,330 | 530 |
| Arizona | $63,090 | 820 |
| Michigan | $63,090 | 1,690 |
| Minnesota | $62,650 | 1,970 |
| South Carolina | $62,000 | 500 |
| Kansas | $61,920 | 500 |
| Montana | $61,750 | 200 |
| Missouri | $61,620 | 880 |
| North Dakota | $60,520 | 200 |
| Tennessee | $59,550 | 1,390 |
| Kentucky | $59,430 | 490 |
| Louisiana | $58,860 | 330 |
| Iowa | $57,200 | 900 |
| South Dakota | $56,730 | 140 |
| West Virginia | $56,630 | 260 |
| Indiana | $56,440 | 830 |
| Hawaii | $55,070 | 100 |
| Mississippi | $54,380 | 290 |
| Oklahoma | $50,780 | 500 |
| Arkansas | $50,180 | 260 |
| Maine | $50,180 | 300 |
| Wyoming | $46,710 | 110 |
| Nebraska | $46,320 | 360 |
| Texas | $45,950 | 6,460 |
| Puerto Rico | $39,640 | 300 |
Best-paying metro areas for editors
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $117,580 | 560 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $102,940 | 2,040 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $102,120 | 16,600 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $100,050 | 8,830 |
| New Haven, CT | $98,550 | 110 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $88,610 | 340 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $87,150 | 230 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $86,870 | 150 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $86,410 | 2,480 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $84,800 | 5,470 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $81,330 | 110 |
| Boulder, CO | $81,090 | 220 |
| Salem, OR | $80,650 | 100 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $80,570 | 120 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $80,410 | 220 |
Metro areas with the most editors
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 16,600 | $102,120 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 8,830 | $100,050 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 5,470 | $84,800 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,520 | $80,380 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 2,480 | $86,410 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 2,040 | $102,940 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,930 | $29,040 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,690 | $74,530 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 1,390 | $63,430 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,380 | $77,680 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,380 | $79,660 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 1,140 | $52,600 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,130 | $76,720 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,090 | $78,670 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 740 | $64,250 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $60,170 | $28.93 |
| Writers and Authors | $76,910 | $36.98 |
| Technical Writer | $90,390 | $43.46 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $62,200 | $29.91 |
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $47,340 | $22.76 |
| Media and Communication Workers, All Other | $73,620 | $35.39 |
| Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners | $72,420 | $34.82 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | — |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,360 | $43.44 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 | $32.31 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $58,100 | $27.93 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-3041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a editor make in the U.S.?
The median salary for editors in the U.S. is $77,920 a year, or $37.46 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $153,700 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid editors make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of editors in the U.S. earn at least $153,700 a year. The top 25% earn $106,100 or more.
What is the starting pay for editors in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,250 a year, and a quarter of editors earn $57,300 or less.
How many editors work in the U.S.?
About 91,690 editors are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.