Editor salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
An editor earns a median of $77,920 a year ($37.46 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $90,060. About 91,690 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $77,920
- Gross pay
- $2,996.92
- Federal income tax
- −$319.71
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$185.81
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$43.46
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $2,447.95
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $77,920
- Federal
- $8,312
- FICA
- $5,961
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $63,647
- Marginal federal rate
- 22.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Editor salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $101,480 | $116,740 | 16,800 |
| California | $98,030 | $111,810 | 14,830 |
| Connecticut | $85,950 | $95,580 | 1,050 |
| District of Columbia | $83,920 | $109,290 | 3,310 |
| Massachusetts | $83,170 | $89,740 | 3,100 |
| New Jersey | $81,680 | $107,030 | 2,120 |
| Virginia | $80,590 | $89,740 | 2,720 |
| Rhode Island | $77,960 | $76,890 | 340 |
| Colorado | $77,870 | $79,150 | 1,830 |
| Washington | $77,850 | $83,960 | 1,860 |
| Georgia | $76,650 | $80,920 | 1,920 |
| Illinois | $76,060 | $80,620 | 4,560 |
| Maryland | $75,550 | $83,200 | 1,850 |
| Delaware | $75,020 | $77,120 | 170 |
| Florida | $73,950 | $77,370 | 3,790 |
| North Carolina | $73,740 | $77,380 | 1,870 |
| Nevada | $72,510 | $73,330 | — |
| Ohio | $72,160 | $77,140 | 1,800 |
| Oregon | $71,540 | $74,780 | 1,110 |
| Vermont | $66,860 | $81,310 | 240 |
| New Hampshire | $66,510 | $75,310 | 250 |
| Utah | $65,040 | $73,400 | 590 |
| Wisconsin | $64,270 | $70,670 | 1,510 |
| New Mexico | $64,250 | $70,400 | 230 |
| Alaska | $63,630 | $73,930 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,460 | $72,000 | 3,240 |
| Alabama | $63,330 | $72,280 | 530 |
| Arizona | $63,090 | $73,920 | 820 |
| Michigan | $63,090 | $66,850 | 1,690 |
| Minnesota | $62,650 | $69,290 | 1,970 |
| South Carolina | $62,000 | $67,920 | 500 |
| Kansas | $61,920 | $69,630 | 500 |
| Montana | $61,750 | $67,960 | 200 |
| Missouri | $61,620 | $68,130 | 880 |
| North Dakota | $60,520 | $60,420 | 200 |
| Tennessee | $59,550 | $66,960 | 1,390 |
| Kentucky | $59,430 | $72,640 | 490 |
| Louisiana | $58,860 | $62,750 | 330 |
| Iowa | $57,200 | $67,790 | 900 |
| South Dakota | $56,730 | $60,200 | 140 |
| West Virginia | $56,630 | $62,040 | 260 |
| Indiana | $56,440 | $63,020 | 830 |
| Hawaii | $55,070 | $66,010 | 100 |
| Mississippi | $54,380 | $58,480 | 290 |
| Oklahoma | $50,780 | $55,610 | 500 |
| Arkansas | $50,180 | $52,010 | 260 |
| Maine | $50,180 | $63,910 | 300 |
| Wyoming | $46,710 | $53,200 | 110 |
| Nebraska | $46,320 | $52,460 | 360 |
| Texas | $45,950 | $57,300 | 6,460 |
Similar jobs
- Writer and Author: $76,910
- Film and Video Editor: $75,420
- Set and Exhibit Designer: $75,240
- Camera Operator: $74,990
- Fashion Designer: $80,960
- Public Relations Specialist: $74,750
- Music Director and Composer: $73,710
- Media and Communication Worker: $73,620
BLS occupation: Editors. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 27-3041). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an editor make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $37.46; the average is $43.30.
Which state pays editors the most?
New York ($101,480 median), followed by California and Connecticut.
What is the salary range for an editor?
The bottom 10% earn under $41,250 and the top 10% earn over $153,700 a year.
How much is $77,920 after taxes?
About $63,647 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $59,626 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.