The median pay for Editors is $77,920 a year ($37.46/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to fall 1.1% through 2035, with about 7,900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 27-3041
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Editor in four numbers
- Median pay
- $77,920a year, or $37.46/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $41KTop 10% $154K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -1.1%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−1.1%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −1.1% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 7,900105,000 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025105K
- Projected 2035103.8K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 105K Projected 2035 103.8K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Acquisitions Editor, Assignment Editor, Business Editor, Features Editor, Legal Editor, Newspaper Copy Editor.
Pay
How much do Editors make?
Every editor in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$77,920
Middle half earn $57,300 to $106,100
- 10th
- $41,250
- 25th
- $57,300
- 75th
- $106,100
- 90th
- $153,700
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $41,250 |
| 25th | $57,300 |
| Median | $77,920 |
| 75th | $106,100 |
| 90th | $153,700 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $77,920
- Median hourly wage
- $37.46/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $90,060
- People employed
- 91,690
Versus all US occupations
At $77,920, Editors earn 53% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $26,940 a year.
Versus arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
Inside the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media group, where the middle occupation pays $68,060, this is 14% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $153,700 or more while the bottom 10% earn $41,250, a gap of 3.7×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 54% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New York pays the most at $101,480, and still leads at $94,032 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Editors the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New York | $101,480 | $94,032 | 16,800 |
| 2California | $98,030 | $88,539 | 14,830 |
| 3Connecticut | $85,950 | $82,955 | 1,050 |
| 4District of Columbia | $83,920 | $76,360 | 3,310 |
| 5Massachusetts | $83,170 | $78,643 | 3,100 |
| 6New Jersey | $81,680 | $75,070 | 2,120 |
| 7Virginia | $80,590 | $79,710 | 2,720 |
| 8Rhode Island | $77,960 | $76,222 | 340 |
| 9Colorado | $77,870 | $75,564 | 1,830 |
| 10Washington | $77,850 | $72,748 | 1,860 |
Job outlook
Is Editor a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -1.1% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Editors | −1.1% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Editors to change -1.1% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 1,100 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 7,900 openings are projected each year, 7.5% of the 105,000 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Demand for reading for pleasure may support demand for book editors. However, as traditional print newspapers and magazines lose ground to other media formats, employment of editors who work for those publications is projected to decline.
Getting in
How to become an Editor
A bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, or English, combined with previous writing and proofreading experience, is typically required to be an editor.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
Less than 5 years
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
Full BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entryThe work
What does an Editor do?
Plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication.
Editors plan, review, and revise content for publication.
Day-to-day tasks
- Read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, and syntax.
- Prepare, rewrite and edit copy to improve readability, or supervise others who do this work.
- Plan the contents of publications according to the publication's style, editorial policy, and publishing requirements.
- Verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard reference sources.
- Develop story or content ideas, considering reader or audience appeal.
- Write text, such as headlines, stories, articles, editorials, or newsletters.
- Respond to questions from the public.
- Monitor news-gathering operations to ensure utilization of all news sources, such as press releases, telephone contacts, radio, television, wire services, and other reporters.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most editors work full time, and their schedules are generally determined by production deadlines and type of editorial position. Editors typically work in busy offices and have to deal with production deadline pressures and the stresses of ensuring that the information they publish is correct. As a result, editors often work many hours, especially at those times leading up to a publication deadline. These work hours can be even more frequent when an editor is working on digital material for the Internet or for a live broadcast.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where editors work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Professional, scientific, and technical services17%
- Newspaper publishers12%
- Self-employed workers9%
- Media streaming distribution services, social networks, and other media networks and content providers7%
- Motion picture and video industries7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 17% |
| Newspaper publishers | 12% |
| Self-employed workers | 9% |
| Media streaming distribution services, social networks, and other media networks and content providers | 7% |
| Motion picture and video industries | 7% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension5.0
- Writing4.4
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Active Learning3.3
- Monitoring3.3
- Learning Strategies3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 5.0 |
| Writing | 4.4 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 |
| Monitoring | 3.3 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Time Management3.4
- Complex Problem Solving3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Negotiation3.1
- Management of Personnel Resources3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Persuasion3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Time Management | 3.4 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Negotiation | 3.1 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data mining software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise application integration software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Process mapping and design software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Editor?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Editor |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 1 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 5 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Artistic5.4
- Conventional4.7
- Enterprising4.1
- Investigative2.9
- Social2.6
- Realistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Editor
O*NET related occupations
- Office and Administrative Support
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
More arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media careers
Median annual pay, with editors highlighted
- Art Director$114,850
- Technical Writer$90,390
- Editor$77,920
- Writer and Author$76,910
- Public Relations Specialist$74,750
- Interior Designer$67,190
- Graphic Designer$62,960
- Interpreter and Translator$60,170
- Photographer$44,660
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Art Director | $114,850 |
| Technical Writer | $90,390 |
| Editor | $77,920 |
| Writer and Author | $76,910 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 |
| Interpreter and Translator | $60,170 |
| Photographer | $44,660 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within editor
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Questions
Editor: frequently asked questions
How much do Editors make?
Editors earn a median of $77,920 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 53% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $37.46/hr. The middle half earn between $57,300 and $106,100. The top 10% earn $153,700 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Editor?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Editors, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first.
Is Editor a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 1.1% over 2025–2035, a loss of 1,100 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 7,900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Editor do?
Editors plan, review, and revise content for publication. A core O*NET task: read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, and syntax. Employers most often ask for Data mining software, Desktop publishing software, Document management software.
Which states pay Editors the most?
The highest state medians for Editors are New York ($101,480), California ($98,030), Connecticut ($85,950) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Editor?
O*NET scores Editors highest on the Artistic, Conventional and Enterprising interest areas, so the work mixes creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ENFJ, INFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.