Editor Salary in Boston, MA
Editors in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $86,410 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $65,519 take-home, or $5,460 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median editor salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,180
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,357
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,253
- Massachusetts income tax$4,101
- Take-home pay$65,519
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Editor pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,170 | $25.56 | $42,464 | $3,539 |
| 25th percentile | $64,510 | $31.01 | $51,008 | $4,251 |
| Median (50th) | $86,410 | $41.54 | $65,519 | $5,460 |
| 75th percentile | $107,150 | $51.51 | $79,073 | $6,589 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $140,330 | $67.47 | $100,385 | $8,365 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $86,410 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median editor's $65,519 take-home pay has the buying power of $60,517 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Boston, MA has 1.6× the national concentration of editor jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for editors, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #3 of 5 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $102,120 | $75,687 | $67,239 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $100,050 | $72,839 | $64,138 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $86,410 | $65,519 | $60,517 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $80,380 | $61,543 | $59,408 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $84,800 | $64,247 | $59,005 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 5 metros →
About the job: editors
Plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -1.1% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a editor make in Boston, MA?
The median editor salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $86,410 a year, or about $41.54 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $64,510 and $107,150.
What is a editor’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $86,410 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $65,519 a year ($5,460 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,101 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a editor?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $77,920. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $60,517 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #3 of 5 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a editor afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median editor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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