Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
Less than 5 years
None
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Editors focus on shaping and refining written content, drawing heavily on strong writing and reading skills, attention to detail, and critical and analytical thinking. Nationally, this occupation employs about 116,000 people, with a median annual salary of $75,260. Projected employment growth of 0.6% combined with about 10,000 annual openings suggests ongoing movement in the field through job changes and replacements. Successful editors also rely on speaking and listening skills to work with others, plus creativity and innovation to improve content quality. Competence with computers and information technology supports day-to-day work, while adaptability helps editors respond to changing needs. Leadership, problem solving and decision making, and customer service skills round out the profile for those who take on greater responsibility or work closely with clients or stakeholders. For individuals drawn to language, precision, and continuous improvement of written materials, this role offers a stable professional pathway with varied opportunities by location.
Editors earn a national median annual salary of $75,260, placing this career in a solid income range. Within the top states ranked by opportunity score, salaries vary meaningfully. New York shows a median of $101,480 and California $98,030, both notably higher than the national median. Massachusetts offers $83,170, while Colorado and Washington are closer to the national level at $77,870 and $77,850, respectively. At the metro level, some areas stand out even more. The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro has a median salary of $117,580, and both the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metros are above $100,000. Other leading metros such as Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH provide median salaries above $80,000. Overall, earning potential for editors can increase significantly in certain high-opportunity states and metropolitan areas.
National employment for editors stands at about 116,000, with projected employment growth of 0.6%. While this is modest growth, the occupation is expected to generate about 10,000 annual openings. This combination indicates that many opportunities may arise from job changes, career moves, and replacement needs rather than large-scale expansion. The uniform 0.6% projected growth rate reported for top states and leading metro areas suggests similar growth expectations across a range of locations. For career planners, the steady national employment base offers a level of predictability, while the consistent flow of annual openings signals ongoing demand for qualified editors. Individuals considering this path can factor in both the stable employment level and the modest projected change, using location and salary data to target regions that best match their goals. Overall, the outlook suggests a career with continuing, if gradual, opportunity across the country.
Location plays a significant role in opportunities for editors. Among states, California, New York, and Massachusetts stand out with the highest CareerGPS opportunity scores: 67.38, 65.78, and 65.87, respectively. New York has the highest state-level median salary at $101,480 and the largest employment at 16,800, while California follows closely with a $98,030 median salary and 14,830 employed. Massachusetts offers a median salary of $83,170 with 3,100 employed. Colorado and Washington also appear as strong options, with median salaries near $78,000 and opportunity scores in the mid-50s. At the metro level, opportunities become even more concentrated. The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metros both have opportunity scores above 77, with median salaries of $117,580 and $102,120, respectively. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH also combine relatively high salaries with solid opportunity scores, making them notable destinations for editors.
The typical education level for editors is a bachelor’s degree. This requirement aligns with the occupation’s emphasis on strong language abilities and critical thinking. Core skills for success include writing and reading, along with speaking and listening, which support clear communication and collaboration. Creativity and innovation are important for improving and refining content, while critical and analytical thinking help editors evaluate accuracy, structure, and overall quality. Being detail oriented is central to catching errors and maintaining consistency. Editors also benefit from skills in computers and information technology, reflecting the role of digital tools in modern editing work. Adaptability supports working in changing environments, and leadership skills can be valuable for those who guide projects or teams. Problem solving and decision making, combined with customer service skills, help editors address feedback, balance different needs, and maintain professional relationships. Together, the bachelor’s degree requirement and this skill set define a career path that values both technical precision and interpersonal strengths.
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