California Median
$98,030
per year
Hourly Rate
$47.13
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+26% vs US median
US median $77,920
State Rank
#2 of 50
14,830 employed here
How much does an Editor make in California?
An Editor working in California earns a median salary of $98,030 per year, or about $47.13 per hour. That is 26% above the national median of $77,920 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $52,510 while the top 10% make $173,590 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $71,090 and $136,820 a year.
Editor salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,510 | $25.25 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $71,090 | $34.18 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $98,030 | $47.13 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $136,820 | $65.78 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $173,590 | $83.46 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 2nd out of 50 states and territories for Editor pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Editor salary in other states
New York $101,480Connecticut $85,950District of Columbia $83,920Massachusetts $83,170New Jersey $81,680Virginia $80,590Rhode Island $77,960Colorado $77,870Washington $77,850Georgia $76,650Illinois $76,060Maryland $75,550Delaware $75,020Florida $73,950North Carolina $73,740Nevada $72,510Ohio $72,160Oregon $71,540Vermont $66,860New Hampshire $66,510Utah $65,040Wisconsin $64,270New Mexico $64,250Alaska $63,630Pennsylvania $63,460Alabama $63,330Arizona $63,090Michigan $63,090Minnesota $62,650South Carolina $62,000Kansas $61,920Montana $61,750Missouri $61,620North Dakota $60,520Tennessee $59,550Kentucky $59,430Louisiana $58,860Iowa $57,200South Dakota $56,730West Virginia $56,630Indiana $56,440Hawaii $55,070Mississippi $54,380Oklahoma $50,780Arkansas $50,180Maine $50,180Wyoming $46,710Nebraska $46,320Texas $45,950
Working as an Editor in California
Nationally, about 92,000 people work as Editors in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($98,030) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Editor make in California?
The median Editor salary in California is $98,030 per year, or about $47.13 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $52,510 at the entry level to $173,590 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Editors about 26% more than the national median of $77,920. California ranks 2nd out of 50 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Editors?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $98,030 a year. About 14,830 Editors are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Editor salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.