Technical Writers
Median wage · national
$90,390
Range: $71K – $116K
Employed
46K
Openings/yr
3K
Typically: bachelor's degree
HUMANITIES
Editor
Editor earn $77,920 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $57,300 and $106,100. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Editor
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a editor: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Communication & Media and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
Plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication.
- Median Wage
- $77,920
- Employed Nationally
- 92K
- Openings / Year
- 7,900
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
Acquisitions Editor
Acute Editor
Advertising Editor
Art Editor
Assignment Editor
How Much Do Editors Make?
Most editors take home around $77,920 a year, above what most college graduates make. Half earn somewhere between $57,300 and $106,100, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. A solid living in most parts of the country. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$77,920
National Median (Annual)
Above the national median for college graduates.
$57K–$106K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$57,300
Entry-level
$77,920
Median
$106,100
Experienced
The mean wage for this occupation is $90,060, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.
What Do Editors Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- Read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, and syntax.
- Verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard reference sources.
- Read, evaluate and edit manuscripts or other materials submitted for publication, and confer with authors regarding changes in content, style or organization, or publication.
- Develop story or content ideas, considering reader or audience appeal.
- Prepare, rewrite and edit copy to improve readability, or supervise others who do this work.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Reading Comprehension
Writing
Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Speaking
Who Thrives Here
A
Artistic
Creative and original thinking matters in this field, where fresh approaches, design sensibility, or expressive work drives real outcomes.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
E
Enterprising
Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.
Where Do Editors Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Editors?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by -1.1%, meaning it is shrinking, so expect more competition for fewer roles. Around 7,900 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↘ -1.1%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
Declining employment projected.
7,900
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
92K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Editor professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $77,920 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 16,800 | $101,480 | +30.2% |
| 2 | California | 14,830 | $98,030 | +25.8% |
| 3 | Texas | 6,460 | $45,950 | -41.0% |
| 4 | Illinois | 4,560 | $76,060 | -2.4% |
| 5 | Florida | 3,790 | $73,950 | -5.1% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a bachelor's degree. The 8 programs below are the most common routes in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
The next most common path is a Public Relations program and the colleges offering it, which suits a different kind of applicant.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Communication & Media | 56,620 | $56,359 | 1,406 |
| 2 | Public Relations | 20,666 | $63,560 | 608 |
| 3 | Rhetoric & Composition | 13,176 | $48,471 | 766 |
| 4 | Journalism | 12,280 | $56,278 | 522 |
| 5 | Communication & Journalism, Other | 1,238 | $55,384 | 99 |
| 6 | Business Operations Support | 837 | $65,784 | 80 |
| 7 | Literature | 774 | $46,173 | 118 |
| 8 | Publishing | 371 | $36,148 | 30 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Editors
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 2 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 3 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| 4 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
| 5 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 6 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | 92 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Editor, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Editor pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Editor Pros & Cons
Editor has real financial strengths, but declining employment projections deserve careful consideration. The 2 upsides and 3 concerns below are all data-sourced.
PROS
- Above-average pay At $77,920 median annually, this career pays meaningfully more than most college-graduate roles. Financial return on education is typically strong.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $106,100 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
CONS
- Declining employment The BLS projects -1.1% employment change through 2035. This field is expected to shrink. Automation, offshoring, or structural industry change are likely factors.
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $77,920 median while building the experience employers require.
- Entry-level pay well below the national median The 25th percentile wage of $57,300 is considerably below the $77,920 median. Early-career workers typically spend 5 or more years building toward typical pay. Factor this into any program ROI calculation.
Editor Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Editor professionals earn?
Around $77,920 a year for the typical worker, above the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $57,300 and $106,100. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Editor a good career?
With realistic expectations. The BLS projects -1.1% employment change through 2035. This field is shrinking, not expanding. The $77,920 median wage is competitive, but most openings come from retirements and exits rather than new positions. If you're drawn to this work, differentiate through a specialized niche or adjacent certification that keeps you relevant as the broader field contracts.
How long does it take to work as Editors?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Communication & Media are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $77,920 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
Why are Editor jobs declining?
The BLS projects -1.1% employment change for Editor through 2035. Declining occupations typically face some combination of automation, industry consolidation, offshoring, or reduced consumer demand, rarely a single cause. Despite the overall decline, about 7,900 openings per year are still projected, mostly replacements for workers who retire or leave, not new positions. 92K people currently work in this field, so while it's contracting, active hiring still occurs. Specialization in high-value segments of the role gives the strongest protection.
What skills do Editor professionals need?
Mainly Reading Comprehension, Writing, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, and Speaking. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
Related Findings
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10 Six-Figure Careers That Do Not Need a Bachelor's Degree
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 106 of 393 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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