Editor Salary in San Francisco, CA
Editors in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $102,940 a year — 32% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $74,566 take-home, or $6,214 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median editor salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,817
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,382
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,493
- California income tax$5,344
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,338
- Take-home pay$74,566
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Editor pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,480 | $29.56 | $49,042 | $4,087 |
| 25th percentile | $78,700 | $37.84 | $60,083 | $5,007 |
| Median (50th) | $102,940 | $49.49 | $74,566 | $6,214 |
| 75th percentile | $132,770 | $63.83 | $92,170 | $7,681 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $173,990 | $83.65 | $115,975 | $9,665 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $102,940 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median editor's $74,566 take-home pay has the buying power of $64,496 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Francisco, CA has 1.5× the national concentration of editor jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for editors, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #3 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
- Los Angeles, CA — $100,050
- San Diego, CA — $78,870
Frequently asked questions
How much does a editor make in San Francisco, CA?
The median editor salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $102,940 a year, or about $49.49 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $78,700 and $132,770.
What is a editor’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $102,940 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $74,566 a year ($6,214 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,682 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a editor?
Pay here is 32% above the national median of $77,920. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $64,496 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #3 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a editor afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median editor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Art Director — $165,210
- Special Effects Artist and Animator — $136,770
- Technical Writer — $135,470
- Producer and Director — $130,640
- Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators — $126,470
- Film and Video Editor — $109,930
- Commercial and Industrial Designer — $104,000
- Public Relations Specialist — $102,520
- Fashion Designer — $102,370
- Sound Engineering Technician — $94,990
- Graphic Designer — $92,050
- Media and Communication Workers, All Other — $89,050