Editor Salary in Seattle, WA
Editors in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $79,660 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $64,871 take-home, or $5,406 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median editor salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,695
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,939
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,155
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$64,871
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Editor pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,320 | $24.19 | $42,612 | $3,551 |
| 25th percentile | $56,900 | $27.36 | $47,899 | $3,992 |
| Median (50th) | $79,660 | $38.30 | $64,871 | $5,406 |
| 75th percentile | $101,150 | $48.63 | $79,989 | $6,666 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $132,170 | $63.54 | $101,604 | $8,467 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $79,660 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median editor's $64,871 take-home pay has the buying power of $58,372 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 Seattle, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.12).
Best-paying cities for editors, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #12 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 |
| 12 | Seattle, WA | $79,660 | $64,871 | $58,372 |
*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 Seattle, WA?
The median editor salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $79,660 a year, or about $38.30 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $56,900 and $101,150.
What is a editor’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $79,660 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $64,871 a year ($5,406 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a editor?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $77,920. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $58,372 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #12 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a editor afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 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 Seattle, WA
- Special Effects Artist and Animator — $134,120
- Art Director — $124,610
- Technical Writer — $107,580
- Writer and Author — $98,730
- Public Relations Specialist — $96,000
- Producer and Director — $86,680
- Interior Designer — $78,810
- Graphic Designer — $76,720
- Audio and Video Technician — $69,270
- Interpreter and Translator — $65,800
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $59,340
- Photographer — $51,790