Median Salary
$77,920
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$37.46
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$153,700
entry level starts ~$41,250
Pay Grade
B+
strong pay · 92,000 employed
How much does an Editor make?
The median pay for an Editor in the United States is $77,920 per year — about $37.46 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $41,250, while the most experienced Editors in the top 10% earn $153,700.
That is $16,530 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Editor salary range by percentile
Half of all Editors earn between $57,300 and $106,100 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,250 | $19.83 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $57,300 | $27.55 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $77,920 | $37.46 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $106,100 | $51.01 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $153,700 | $73.89 |
|
Highest-paying states for Editor
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. New York leads the country for Editor pay at $101,480 a year, followed by California ($98,030) and Connecticut ($85,950). At the other end, Texas posts the lowest median at $45,950 — a gap of $55,530 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Editor salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 50 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
New York $101,480California $98,030Connecticut $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
Workforce and education
About 92,000 people work as Editors in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $90,060 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Editor make in the United States?
The median Editor salary in the United States is $77,920 per year, or about $37.46 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $41,250, while the top 10% of earners make $153,700 or more.
How does Editor pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B+ (strong pay), the Editor median of $77,920 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Editors the most?
New York is the highest-paying state for Editors, with a median salary of $101,480 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become an Editor?
Becoming an Editor typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Editors work in the United States?
About 92,000 people were employed as Editors in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
Related salaries
Other arts & media roles with similar pay.
$68,060
median pay · 9,000 employed
$62,200
median pay · 39,000 employed
$74,990
median pay · 22,000 employed
$58,100
median pay · 70,000 employed
$74,750
median pay · 283,000 employed
$55,490
median pay · 11,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.