How much does a editor make?
The median editor in the United States earns $75,260 per year, about $36.18 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all editors earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 27-3041.
Editor salary range
Pay for editors spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $36,200 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $140,840. The average (mean) wage of $85,700 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,200 | $17.40 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $50,210 | $24.14 | |
| Median (50th) | $75,260 | $36.18 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $101,210 | $48.66 | |
| 90th percentile | $140,840 | $67.71 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for editors (SOC 27-3041), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Editor salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Editors earn the most in New York at $98,620 a year, and the least in Texas at $28,860. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $98,620 | 17,410 |
| Delaware | $91,700 | 180 |
| California | $90,570 | 14,920 |
| Washington | $85,250 | 2,800 |
| Connecticut | $81,910 | 1,310 |
| District of Columbia | $81,580 | 3,580 |
| Virginia | $79,080 | 3,150 |
| Massachusetts | $78,720 | 3,200 |
| West Virginia | $76,760 | 350 |
| Colorado | $75,660 | 1,710 |
| Oregon | $72,780 | 890 |
| Maryland | $72,500 | 1,870 |
| Illinois | $68,050 | 3,680 |
| Georgia | $66,880 | 1,940 |
| New Hampshire | $65,920 | 240 |
| Rhode Island | $64,740 | 310 |
| Florida | $64,380 | 4,000 |
| North Carolina | $64,340 | 2,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,790 | 3,500 |
| Nevada | $62,910 | 310 |
| Vermont | $62,710 | 220 |
| Michigan | $62,140 | 1,740 |
| Arizona | $61,530 | 1,090 |
| Ohio | $61,330 | 1,770 |
| New Mexico | $61,250 | 270 |
| Utah | $59,860 | 550 |
| Wisconsin | $58,940 | 1,140 |
| Missouri | $58,740 | 1,020 |
| Iowa | $58,570 | 640 |
| South Carolina | $58,210 | 560 |
| Hawaii | $58,000 | 160 |
| Kentucky | $57,410 | 430 |
| South Dakota | $57,260 | 100 |
| North Dakota | $56,660 | 210 |
| Alaska | $55,370 | 50 |
| Kansas | $54,480 | 490 |
| Minnesota | $53,900 | 1,850 |
| Indiana | $51,550 | 1,110 |
| Tennessee | $51,060 | 960 |
| Mississippi | $49,510 | 280 |
| Louisiana | $48,880 | 330 |
| Maine | $47,750 | 310 |
| Idaho | $46,880 | 300 |
| Oklahoma | $45,560 | 540 |
| Montana | $45,470 | 210 |
| Alabama | $44,990 | 590 |
| Arkansas | $44,690 | 350 |
| Wyoming | $43,280 | 170 |
| Nebraska | $40,100 | 300 |
| Texas | $28,860 | 8,190 |
State median wages for editors (SOC 27-3041), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for editors
The BLS projects employment of editors to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 1.1%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 105,000 jobs in 2025 moving toward 103,800 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 7,900 openings a year for editors. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become an editor
The typical entry-level education for editors is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS. Most roles also expect less than 5 years of work experience in a related occupation.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much an editor earns
Employer, market size, reputation, and whether the work is staff or freelance drive a wide pay spread. A small group of top earners pulls the high end of this field well up.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (New York, $98,620) and the lowest (Texas, $28,860) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 95,480 people work as editors in the United States. At $75,260 a year, the job pays above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Editor salary FAQ
How much does an editor make an hour?
The median hourly wage for an editor is $36.18. The middle half of editors earn between $24.14 and $48.66 per hour.
What is the highest editor salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of editors earn more than $140,840 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does an editor make a year?
The median annual salary for an editor is $75,260. The average (mean) wage of $85,700 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being an editor a well paid job?
At $75,260 a year, an editor earns above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 95,480 people work as editors in the United States.
Which state pays editors the most?
New York has the highest median salary for editors at $98,620 a year. Delaware ($91,700) and California ($90,570) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being an editor a good career?
Employment of editors is projected to shrink 1.1% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 7,900 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become an editor?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for editors as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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