Editors · California

Editors Salary in California

Editors in California earn a median annual wage of $98,030 —25.8% above the national median of $77,920. That ranks CA #2 of 50 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$98,030
Median hourly
$47.13
Entry level (P10)
$52,510
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$173,590
90th percentile
Employment
14,830
0.8 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+25.8%
U.S. $77,920

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$52,510
$71,090
$98,030
$136,820
$52,510$98,030$173,590
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $98,030.

Employment is 1.38× as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for editors

All 50 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1New York$101,480$48.7916,8002.94
2California$98,030$47.1314,8301.38
3Connecticut$85,950$41.321,0501.05
4District of Columbia$83,920$40.353,3107.99
5Massachusetts$83,170$39.993,1001.44
6New Jersey$81,680$39.272,1200.84
7Virginia$80,590$38.742,7201.12
8Rhode Island$77,960$37.483401.14
9Colorado$77,870$37.441,8301.08
10Washington$77,850$37.431,8600.89

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

OccupationCalifornia medianU.S. median
Public Relations Specialists$85,030$74,750
Coaches and Scouts$47,660$47,320
Graphic Designers$75,130$62,960
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$47,010$39,390
Producers and Directors$129,790$90,360
Interior Designers$80,230$67,190

Frequently asked questions

How much do editors make in California?

The median annual wage for editors in California is $98,030, or $47.13 per hour. That is 25.8% above the national median of $77,920.

What is the entry-level editors salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $52,510 per year ($25.25/hour). The 25th percentile is $71,090.

How many people work as editors in California?

About 14,830 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.8 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for editors?

California ranks #2 of 50 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.38x as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays editors the most?

New York has the highest median wage at $101,480 per year, followed by California ($98,030) and Connecticut ($85,950).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes