Editors
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Editors in the United States earn a median salary of $77,920 per year — about $37 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 116K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +1%.
Median Salary
$77,920
~$37/hr · ~$6,493/mo
US Jobs
116K
Slower than average
AI & Automation Risk
9/10
Very High
AI & Automation Risk
Very High 9/10
Editing is a fully digital occupation centered on language processing, a core strength of Large Language Models. AI can already perform high-level copy editing, fact-checking, and rewriting, significantly increasing individual productivity and reducing the total number of human editors required for routine content management.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CABEST VALUE | $117,580 | Above avg (113.1) | $103,999 |
| New Haven, CT | $98,550 | Above avg (105.4) | $93,538 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $102,120 | Above avg (112.6) | $90,656 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $102,940 | Above avg (117.6) | $87,571 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $79,350 | Below avg (90.8) | $87,386 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $100,050 | Above avg (114.7) | $87,190 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $87,150 | Average (101.0) | $86,304 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $76,350 | Below avg (88.6) | $86,170 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $78,690 | Below avg (92.4) | $85,184 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $86,870 | Average (102.4) | $84,819 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $78,990 | Below avg (94.1) | $83,985 |
| Montgomery, AL | $75,520 | Below avg (89.9) | $83,970 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area | $88,610 | Above avg (107.0) | $82,805 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $80,410 | Average (97.3) | $82,601 |
| Columbus, OH | $77,810 | Below avg (94.6) | $82,226 |
Cost of Living Index: 100 = US national average. Below 100 = cheaper. Above 100 = more expensive.
Education & Requirements
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
10-Year Growth
+1% (Slower than average)
Hourly Rate
~$37/hr
Monthly Income
~$6,493/mo
Related Careers
Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OOH (2024)