Research Summary. After comprehensive analysis by the Zippia data science team, we have compiled the latest details on writer and editor salaries by state for the United States in 2026:
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Connecticut leads with the highest writer and editor salary of $85,416.
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Mississippi ranks as the state with the lowest writer and editor salary at $31,712.
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The national average salary for writers and editors is $61,482.
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The national hourly wage for writers and editors stands at $29.56.
For further details, you can explore our specific methodology.
Background
Surveys consistently show that salary is the most significant factor for most individuals when considering job opportunities. Many want to know: how much do writers and editors earn in my area?
While many factors contribute to individual salary expectations, reliable data exists for average salaries for writers and editors by state, categorized by seniority level. Although your local salary may differ from the state average, these figures offer a valuable benchmark.
Connecticut remains the state with the highest average salary for writers and editors.
Here’s a brief overview of the top ten states for writer and editor salaries:
Next, let’s explore how we arrived at these figures and provide a complete ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Writers And Editors By State
| Rank | State | Average Writer And Editor Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $85,416 | $48,000 | $150,000 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $82,472 | $46,000 | $146,000 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $82,188 | $46,000 | $143,000 |
| 4 | Virginia | $79,550 | $44,000 | $143,000 |
| 5 | New York | $78,509 | $44,000 | $139,000 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $72,127 | $41,000 | $126,000 |
| 7 | Washington | $71,256 | $39,000 | $128,000 |
| 8 | Illinois | $70,604 | $39,000 | $126,000 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $69,609 | $39,000 | $122,000 |
| 10 | Maryland | $68,569 | $38,000 | $122,000 |
| 11 | Vermont | $67,005 | $38,000 | $116,000 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $66,116 | $37,000 | $116,000 |
| 13 | Maine | $65,934 | $37,000 | $114,000 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $64,728 | $35,000 | $116,000 |
| 15 | Delaware | $64,584 | $36,000 | $114,000 |
| 16 | Michigan | $62,455 | $35,000 | $111,000 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $62,327 | $35,000 | $110,000 |
| 18 | California | $61,269 | $33,000 | $113,000 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $59,117 | $32,000 | $106,000 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $59,116 | $33,000 | $104,000 |
| 21 | Oregon | $58,510 | $32,000 | $104,000 |
| 22 | Idaho | $57,867 | $32,000 | $102,000 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $53,827 | $30,000 | $95,000 |
| 24 | Nevada | $53,808 | $29,000 | $97,000 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $53,747 | $29,000 | $97,000 |
| 26 | Ohio | $53,014 | $29,000 | $94,000 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $52,137 | $30,000 | $90,000 |
| 28 | Colorado | $51,819 | $30,000 | $89,000 |
| 29 | Georgia | $50,490 | $28,000 | $88,000 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $50,177 | $28,000 | $87,000 |
| 31 | Arizona | $49,571 | $27,000 | $88,000 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $48,932 | $28,000 | $84,000 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $48,413 | $27,000 | $86,000 |
| 34 | Indiana | $48,183 | $26,000 | $86,000 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $47,959 | $27,000 | $83,000 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $46,860 | $26,000 | $83,000 |
| 37 | Alabama | $45,051 | $25,000 | $78,000 |
| 38 | Montana | $44,273 | $25,000 | $77,000 |
| 39 | Texas | $44,241 | $25,000 | $76,000 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $44,164 | $25,000 | $77,000 |
| 41 | Iowa | $43,258 | $24,000 | $76,000 |
| 42 | Utah | $41,159 | $23,000 | $72,000 |
| 43 | Florida | $40,316 | $23,000 | $69,000 |
| 44 | Kansas | $39,555 | $22,000 | $69,000 |
| 45 | Missouri | $39,463 | $22,000 | $69,000 |
| 46 | Alaska | $38,110 | $25,000 | $57,000 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $37,508 | $28,000 | $48,000 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $37,073 | $21,000 | $65,000 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $36,172 | $20,000 | $62,000 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $31,712 | $18,000 | $55,000 |
Methodology: Writer And Editor Salary By State
To accurately assess writer and editor compensation by state, Zippia has compiled data from various sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Labor Compliance (FLC), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This data is further complemented by actual salaries listed in job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average based on these inputs to determine the average pay for writers and editors by state.
We ranked each state according to the average annual salary for writers and editors, with the highest salary reflecting the top position.
Writer And Editor Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for writers and editors?
The highest-paid state for writers and editors is Connecticut, offering an average salary of $85,416 per year.
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What city pays writers and editors the most?
Washington, DC has the highest average salary for writers and editors at $100,149 per year.
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What is the worst state for writers and editors?
The state with the lowest average salary for writers and editors is Mississippi, with an average salary of $31,712 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
