Editor Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Editors in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $100,050 a year — 28% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $72,839 take-home, or $6,070 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median editor salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,181
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,203
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,451
- California income tax$5,075
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,301
- Take-home pay$72,839
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Editor pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,570 | $26.72 | $44,724 | $3,727 |
| 25th percentile | $72,210 | $34.72 | $56,126 | $4,677 |
| Median (50th) | $100,050 | $48.10 | $72,839 | $6,070 |
| 75th percentile | $162,840 | $78.29 | $109,536 | $9,128 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $177,490 | $85.33 | $117,996 | $9,833 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $100,050 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median editor's $72,839 take-home pay has the buying power of $64,138 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 2.4× the national concentration of editor jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for editors, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #4 of 25 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $117,580 | $83,314 | $75,450 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $102,120 | $75,687 | $67,239 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $102,940 | $74,566 | $64,496 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $100,050 | $72,839 | $64,138 |
| 5 | Charlotte, NC | $77,730 | $60,920 | $62,580 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $86,410 | $65,519 | $60,517 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $77,680 | $60,069 | $60,034 |
| 8 | Tampa, FL | $73,330 | $60,418 | $59,885 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 25 metros →
Editor salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $117,580
- San Francisco, CA — $102,940
- San Diego, CA — $78,870
Frequently asked questions
How much does a editor make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median editor salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $100,050 a year, or about $48.10 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $72,210 and $162,840.
What is a editor’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $100,050 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $72,839 a year ($6,070 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,376 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a editor?
Pay here is 28% above the national median of $77,920. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $64,138 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #4 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a editor afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 37% of a median editor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Art Director — $137,560
- Producer and Director — $131,600
- Special Effects Artist and Animator — $124,590
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film — $107,620
- Set and Exhibit Designer — $106,880
- Lighting Technician — $105,010
- Technical Writer — $104,000
- Media and Communication Workers, All Other — $103,050
- Commercial and Industrial Designer — $96,260
- Music Director and Composer — $93,090
- Film and Video Editor — $83,210
- Interior Designer — $80,000