Best cities for a copy editor
The best cities for copy editors are Washington, DC, Nashville, TN, and New York, NY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for copy editors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for copy editors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a copy editor or considering a move, this list of the best cities for copy editors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for copy editors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a copy editor. While the absolute best city for copy editors is Washington, DC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for copy editors in 2024.
If you're looking for a copy editor job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for copy editors in 2026
1. Washington, DC
Total copy editor jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $90,542 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location quotient: 4.21 2. Nashville, TN
Total copy editor jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $56,956 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 3.27 3. New York, NY
Total copy editor jobs: 59 Average annual salary: $72,468 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location quotient: 2.57 4. Boston, MA
Total copy editor jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $78,223 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location quotient: 1.80 5. Philadelphia, PA
Total copy editor jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $70,907 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location quotient: 1.18 6. Pittsburgh, PA
Total copy editor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $69,127 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Jersey City, NJ
Total copy editor jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $88,191 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 0.87 8. Oklahoma City, OK
Total copy editor jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $56,475 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location quotient: 3.49 9. Raleigh, NC
Total copy editor jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $60,746 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 2.19 10. Newark, NJ
Total copy editor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $88,143 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for copy editors
- Washington, DC
- Nashville, TN
- New York, NY
- Boston, MA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Jersey City, NJ
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Raleigh, NC
- Newark, NJ
- (17 copy editor jobs)
- (6 copy editor jobs)
- (59 copy editor jobs)
- (9 copy editor jobs)
- (4 copy editor jobs)
- (0 copy editor jobs)
- (2 copy editor jobs)
- (5 copy editor jobs)
- (4 copy editor jobs)
- (0 copy editor jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a copy editor
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $90,542 | $56,000 | 681,170 | 17 |
| 2 | Nashville, TN | $56,956 | $37,000 | 660,388 | 6 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $72,468 | $45,000 | 8,537,673 | 59 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $78,223 | $50,000 | 673,184 | 9 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $70,907 | $44,000 | 1,567,872 | 4 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh, PA | $69,127 | $43,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 7 | Jersey City, NJ | $88,191 | $55,000 | 264,152 | 2 |
| 8 | Oklahoma City, OK | $56,475 | $37,000 | 638,367 | 5 |
| 9 | Raleigh, NC | $60,746 | $38,000 | 458,880 | 4 |
| 10 | Newark, NJ | $88,143 | $55,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 11 | Virginia Beach, VA | $69,759 | $43,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 12 | Oakland, CA | $70,179 | $43,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 13 | Lexington, KY | $63,096 | $40,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 14 | Detroit, MI | $63,749 | $40,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 15 | Norfolk, VA | $69,671 | $43,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 16 | Islip, NY | $72,563 | $45,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 17 | Chesapeake, VA | $69,521 | $43,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 18 | Louisville, KY | $61,682 | $39,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 19 | Hempstead, NY | $72,561 | $45,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 20 | Sacramento, CA | $70,181 | $43,000 | 495,234 | 3 |
| 21 | Columbus, OH | $54,769 | $34,000 | 860,090 | 4 |
| 22 | Oyster Bay, NY | $72,457 | $45,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 23 | Las Vegas, NV | $57,298 | $36,000 | 632,912 | 3 |
| 24 | Brookhaven, NY | $72,421 | $45,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 25 | Greensboro, NC | $60,070 | $37,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 26 | Winston-Salem, NC | $59,615 | $37,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 27 | Buffalo, NY | $69,533 | $43,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 28 | Atlanta, GA | $58,470 | $37,000 | 472,522 | 9 |
| 29 | Reno, NV | $59,929 | $37,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 30 | Cleveland, OH | $56,163 | $35,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 31 | Durham, NC | $60,813 | $38,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 32 | Toledo, OH | $55,053 | $34,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 33 | Scottsdale, AZ | $54,668 | $35,000 | 246,645 | 2 |
| 34 | Memphis, TN | $55,241 | $36,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 35 | San Francisco, CA | $70,260 | $43,000 | 870,887 | 6 |
| 36 | Los Angeles, CA | $64,570 | $41,000 | 3,976,322 | 35 |
| 37 | Tulsa, OK | $56,538 | $37,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 38 | Chicago, IL | $58,999 | $37,000 | 2,704,958 | 10 |
| 39 | Albuquerque, NM | $58,051 | $37,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 40 | Charlotte, NC | $57,658 | $36,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 41 | Phoenix, AZ | $54,589 | $35,000 | 1,615,017 | 8 |
| 42 | Seattle, WA | $63,253 | $40,000 | 704,352 | 3 |
| 43 | Stockton, CA | $69,944 | $43,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 44 | San Jose, CA | $69,739 | $43,000 | 1,025,350 | 2 |
| 45 | North Las Vegas, NV | $57,275 | $36,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 46 | Fremont, CA | $69,935 | $43,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 47 | Henderson, NV | $57,061 | $36,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 48 | Fresno, CA | $68,630 | $43,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 49 | Milwaukee, WI | $53,470 | $34,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 50 | Cincinnati, OH | $52,563 | $33,000 | 298,800 | - |
Highest paying cities for copy editors
| Rank | City | Avg. copy editor salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $90,542 |
| 2 | Jersey City, NJ | $88,191 |
| 3 | Hartford, CT | $82,565 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $78,223 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $72,468 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $70,907 |
| 7 | Arlington, VA | $70,802 |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $70,260 |
| 9 | Olympia, WA | $64,009 |
| 10 | Skokie, IL | $59,012 |
| 11 | Atlanta, GA | $58,470 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $57,298 |
| 13 | Denver, CO | $57,147 |
| 14 | Oklahoma City, OK | $56,475 |
| 15 | Columbia, SC | $56,422 |
| 16 | Asheville, NC | $56,291 |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $54,769 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $54,589 |
| 19 | Baltimore, MD | $54,509 |
| 20 | Saint Paul, MN | $51,181 |
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Updated January 8, 2025