Editor Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Editors in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $74,530 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $58,974 take-home, or $4,914 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median editor salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,567
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,621
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,081
- Pennsylvania income tax$2,288
- Take-home pay$58,974
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.07% state
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Editor pay by experience in Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,710 | $21.01 | $35,959 | $2,997 |
| 25th percentile | $55,350 | $26.61 | $44,954 | $3,746 |
| Median (50th) | $74,530 | $35.83 | $58,974 | $4,914 |
| 75th percentile | $97,830 | $47.03 | $74,650 | $6,221 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $124,360 | $59.79 | $92,448 | $7,704 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $74,530 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median editor's $58,974 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,505 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Editor jobs are about as common in Philadelphia, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.99).
Best-paying cities for editors, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #14 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 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $74,530 | $58,974 | $57,505 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 25 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a editor make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median editor salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $74,530 a year, or about $35.83 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $55,350 and $97,830.
What is a editor’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $74,530 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $58,974 a year ($4,914 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,288 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a editor?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $77,920. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,505 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #14 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a editor afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median editor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
- Art Director — $105,260
- Broadcast Technician — $103,180
- Technical Writer — $92,330
- Commercial and Industrial Designer — $89,190
- Writer and Author — $84,130
- Producer and Director — $79,070
- Interior Designer — $64,800
- Public Relations Specialist — $64,550
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $63,690
- Graphic Designer — $63,090
- Audio and Video Technician — $62,320
- Interpreter and Translator — $57,940