Editor Salary
Editors earn a median $77,920 a year nationally. Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
U.S. median
$77,920
$37.46 per hour
Range
$41,250 – $153,700
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
91,690
across the U.S.
▲3.5%
Pay trend: The median for editors in the U.S. rose from $75,260 (May 2024) to $77,920 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 1.1%.
What editors do
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)
- Openings per year
- 7,900
- Self-employed
- 9%
Employment of editors is projected to shrink 1.1% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 7,900 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Editor take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$63,647
per year · effective tax rate 18.3%
$5,304Monthly
$2,652Twice a month
$2,448Every 2 weeks
$30.60Hourly
- Federal income tax$8,312
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,831
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,130
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$63,647
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,250 | $19.83 | $35,324 |
| 25th percentile | $57,300 | $27.55 | $48,221 |
| Median (50th) | $77,920 | $37.46 | $63,647 |
| 75th percentile | $106,100 | $51.01 | $83,471 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $153,700 | $73.89 | $116,320 |
Best cities for editors (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $102,120 | $75,687 | $67,239 | 16,600 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $100,050 | $72,839 | $64,138 | 8,830 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $86,410 | $65,519 | $60,517 | 2,480 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $80,380 | $61,543 | $59,408 | 2,520 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $84,800 | $64,247 | $59,005 | 5,470 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- New York, NY — $102,120
- Los Angeles, CA — $100,050
- Boston, MA — $86,410
- Washington, DC — $84,800
- Chicago, IL — $80,380
Editor salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $101,480 | +2.9% | $75,274 | $57,910 – $179,370 | 16,800 |
| California | $98,030 | +8.2% | $71,633 | $52,510 – $173,590 | 14,830 |
| Connecticut | $85,950 | +4.9% | $66,144 | $47,020 – $145,340 | 1,050 |
| District of Columbia | $83,920 | +2.9% | $63,703 | $64,440 – $170,460 | 3,310 |
| Massachusetts | $83,170 | +5.7% | $63,402 | $47,320 – $136,360 | 3,100 |
| New Jersey | $81,680 | — | $63,279 | $53,150 – $138,610 | 2,120 |
| Virginia | $80,590 | +1.9% | $61,705 | $45,760 – $144,810 | 2,720 |
| Rhode Island | $77,960 | +20.4% | $61,368 | $50,900 – $102,890 | 340 |
| Colorado | $77,870 | +2.9% | $60,894 | $44,570 – $115,940 | 1,830 |
| Washington | $77,850 | −8.7% | $63,597 | $50,320 – $128,630 | 1,860 |
| Georgia | $76,650 | +14.6% | $59,398 | $46,080 – $124,000 | 1,920 |
| Illinois | $76,060 | +11.8% | $58,718 | $46,410 – $107,850 | 4,560 |
| Maryland | $75,550 | +4.2% | $58,754 | $46,740 – $124,990 | 1,850 |
| Delaware | $75,020 | −18.2% | $57,996 | $41,770 – $106,420 | 170 |
| Florida | $73,950 | +14.9% | $60,854 | $43,230 – $121,380 | 3,790 |
| North Carolina | $73,740 | +14.6% | $58,273 | $44,050 – $103,990 | 1,870 |
| Nevada | $72,510 | +15.3% | $59,841 | $42,520 – $104,370 | — |
| Ohio | $72,160 | +17.7% | $58,393 | $37,440 – $124,730 | 1,800 |
| Oregon | $71,540 | −1.7% | $53,728 | $44,660 – $111,390 | 1,110 |
| Vermont | $66,860 | +6.6% | $53,913 | $48,320 – $143,630 | 240 |
| New Hampshire | $66,510 | +0.9% | $55,620 | $47,870 – $113,570 | 250 |
| Utah | $65,040 | +8.7% | $52,479 | $40,470 – $119,680 | 590 |
| Wisconsin | $64,270 | +9.0% | $51,774 | $39,470 – $102,530 | 1,510 |
| New Mexico | $64,250 | +4.9% | $51,951 | $38,390 – $116,640 | 230 |
| Alaska | $63,630 | +14.9% | $53,307 | $43,030 – $106,250 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,460 | −0.5% | $51,222 | $37,240 – $114,560 | 3,240 |
| Alabama | $63,330 | +40.8% | $50,164 | $35,600 – $103,890 | 530 |
| Arizona | $63,090 | +2.5% | $51,504 | $42,360 – $109,090 | 820 |
| Michigan | $63,090 | +1.5% | $50,442 | $33,230 – $99,980 | 1,690 |
| Minnesota | $62,650 | +16.2% | $49,782 | $43,370 – $102,270 | 1,970 |
| South Carolina | $62,000 | +6.5% | $49,434 | $39,380 – $119,660 | 500 |
| Kansas | $61,920 | +13.7% | $49,277 | $35,690 – $107,140 | 500 |
| Montana | $61,750 | +35.8% | $49,651 | $32,190 – $122,940 | 200 |
| Missouri | $61,620 | +4.9% | $49,733 | $36,060 – $104,680 | 880 |
| North Dakota | $60,520 | +6.8% | $50,808 | $30,660 – $92,930 | 200 |
| Tennessee | $59,550 | +16.6% | $50,028 | $37,600 – $105,010 | 1,390 |
| Kentucky | $59,430 | +3.5% | $47,970 | $39,040 – $149,990 | 490 |
| Louisiana | $58,860 | +20.4% | $48,094 | $36,680 – $97,740 | 330 |
| Iowa | $57,200 | −2.3% | $46,618 | $38,050 – $108,820 | 900 |
| South Dakota | $56,730 | −0.9% | $47,763 | $47,770 – $79,180 | 140 |
| West Virginia | $56,630 | −26.2% | $45,867 | $28,180 – $100,910 | 260 |
| Indiana | $56,440 | +9.5% | $45,894 | $30,860 – $99,380 | 830 |
| Hawaii | $55,070 | −5.1% | $43,774 | $32,930 – $107,200 | 100 |
| Mississippi | $54,380 | +9.8% | $44,431 | $28,440 – $83,200 | 290 |
| Oklahoma | $50,780 | +11.5% | $41,242 | $31,550 – $85,730 | 500 |
| Arkansas | $50,180 | +12.3% | $40,755 | $28,840 – $76,950 | 260 |
| Maine | $50,180 | +5.1% | $40,294 | $33,170 – $121,320 | 300 |
| Wyoming | $46,710 | +7.9% | $39,711 | $29,590 – $82,920 | 110 |
| Nebraska | $46,320 | +15.5% | $38,170 | $32,280 – $72,740 | 360 |
| Texas | $45,950 | +59.2% | $39,101 | $29,040 – $105,440 | 6,460 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Writer and Author | $76,910 | Bachelor's degree | -0.3% |
| Technical Writer | $90,390 | Bachelor's degree | +0.8% |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | Bachelor's degree | +1.8% |
| Media and Communication Workers, All Other | $73,620 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.9% |
| Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner | $72,420 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -0.1% |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $62,200 | Bachelor's degree | -5.9% |
| Interpreter and Translator | $60,170 | Bachelor's degree | +2.0% |
| Broadcast Announcer and Radio Disc Jockey | $47,340 | Bachelor's degree | -7.6% |
| Film and Video Editor | $75,420 | Bachelor's degree | +3.7% |
| Set and Exhibit Designer | $75,240 | Bachelor's degree | +1.4% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a editor make?
The national median salary for editors is $77,920 a year ($37.46 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $41,250 and the top 10% earn over $153,700. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays editors the most?
New York has the highest median pay at $101,480. After taxes and local prices, New York, NY offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many editors are there in the U.S.?
About 91,690 people work as editors nationwide.