Copy editor demographics and statistics in the US
Copy editor demographics research summary. Zippia estimates copy editor demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our copy editor estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about copy editors after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 34,045 copy editors currently employed in the United States.
- 60.8% of all copy editors are women, while 39.2% are men.
- The average copy editor age is 43 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of copy editors is White (76.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (8.2%), Asian (7.3%) and Unknown (4.6%).
- Copy editors are most in-demand in Los Angeles, CA.
- The finance industry is the highest-paying for copy editors.
- Washington, DC pays an annual average wage of $90,542, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women copy editors earned 101% of what men earned.
- 12% of all copy editors are LGBT.
- District of Columbia is the best state for copy editors to live.
- Copy editors are 74% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Copy editor demographics by:
Copy editor gender statistics
60.8% of copy editors are women and 39.2% of copy editors are men.
- Female, 60.8%
- Male, 39.2%
Copy editor gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 60.8% |
| Male | 39.2% |
Copy editor gender pay gap
Women earn $1.01 for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$61,243
Female income
$61,917
Copy editor gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in copy editor positions over time. Currently, 60.8% of copy editors are female.
Copy editor gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 42.43% | 57.57% |
| 2011 | 43.42% | 56.58% |
| 2012 | 45.67% | 54.33% |
| 2013 | 45.66% | 54.34% |
| 2014 | 44.46% | 55.54% |
| 2015 | 42.96% | 57.04% |
| 2016 | 44.21% | 55.79% |
| 2017 | 43.69% | 56.31% |
| 2018 | 39.99% | 60.01% |
| 2019 | 43.30% | 56.70% |
| 2020 | 40.91% | 59.09% |
| 2021 | 39.20% | 60.80% |
Copy editor related jobs gender ratio
We compared copy editors with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, public address announcer and track announcer have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Paraprofessional Interpreter | 12% | 88% |
| Deaf Interpreter | 15% | 85% |
| Fashion Journalist | 15% | 85% |
| Copy Editor | 39% | 61% |
| Sports Announcer | 91% | 9% |
| Track Announcer | 92% | 8% |
| Public Address Announcer | 93% | 7% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Copy editor demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among copy editors is White, which makes up 76.0% of all copy editors. Comparatively, 8.2% of copy editors are Hispanic or Latino and 7.3% of copy editors are Asian.
- White, 76.0%
- Hispanic or Latino, 8.2%
- Asian, 7.3%
- Unknown, 4.6%
- Black or African American, 3.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
Copy editor race
| Copy editor race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 76.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 8.2% |
| Asian | 7.3% |
| Unknown | 4.6% |
| Black or African American | 3.6% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.3% |
Copy editor race and ethnicity over time
See how copy editor racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Copy editor race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 79.15% | 3.96% | 6.60% | 7.91% |
| 2011 | 81.32% | 3.97% | 5.44% | 7.70% |
| 2012 | 80.83% | 4.13% | 5.71% | 7.40% |
| 2013 | 78.00% | 4.91% | 6.60% | 7.45% |
| 2014 | 79.01% | 4.06% | 6.81% | 7.69% |
| 2015 | 77.66% | 4.50% | 6.80% | 8.43% |
| 2016 | 77.72% | 4.52% | 6.63% | 8.57% |
| 2017 | 77.73% | 4.63% | 6.70% | 7.90% |
| 2018 | 77.78% | 4.03% | 7.25% | 8.08% |
| 2019 | 76.98% | 3.89% | 7.65% | 9.16% |
| 2020 | 75.09% | 3.74% | 7.00% | 8.88% |
| 2021 | 76.04% | 3.61% | 7.30% | 8.19% |
Copy editor wage gap by race
According to our data, asian copy editors have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american copy editors have the lowest average salary at $58,973.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $61,177 |
| White | $59,649 |
| Black or African American | $58,973 |
| Asian | $63,632 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $62,916 |
Average copy editor age
See how the average age of copy editors varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Copy editor age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 34.5 | 36 |
| White | 46 | 42.5 |
| Black or African American | 45 | |
| Asian | 36 | 38 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 43 | 31 |
Copy editor age breakdown
The average age of copy editors is 40+ years years old, representing 58% of the copy editor population.
Copy editor age breakdown
| Copy Editor Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 58% |
| 30-40 years | 27% |
| 20-30 years | 15% |
Copy editor educational attainment
The most common degree for copy editors is bachelor's degree, with 83% of copy editors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 9% and master's degree degree at 5%.
- Bachelor's, 83%
- Master's, 9%
- Associate, 5%
- High School Diploma, 1%
- Other Degrees, 2%
Copy editors by degree level
| Copy editor degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 83% |
| Master's | 9% |
| Associate | 5% |
| High School Diploma | 1% |
| Other Degrees | 2% |
Copy editor jobs you might like
Copy editor wage gap by degree level
According to the data, copy editors with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $72,959 annually. With a Master's degree, copy editors earn a median annual income of $68,736 compared to $63,341 for copy editors with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $68,736 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $63,341 |
| Doctorate Degree | $72,959 |
Copy editor employment statistics
Most copy editors work for a private in the media industry.
Company size where copy editors work
Below, you can see the size of companies where copy editors work.
Copy editor jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 6% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 17% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 31% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 14% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 22% |
| > 10,000 employees | 11% |
Copy editor jobs by company type
Employees with the copy editor job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most copy editors prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Copy editor jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 10% |
| Public | 13% |
| Private | 74% |
| Government | 3% |
Copy editor jobs by industry
The most common industries for copy editors are media, education and professional.
Copy editor industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Media | 61% |
| Education | 8% |
| Fortune 500 | 4% |
| Technology | 4% |
| Professional | 4% |
| Retail | 3% |
| Government | 3% |
| Manufacturing | 3% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Internet | 2% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
Copy editor turnover and employment statistics
Copy editor unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for copy editors between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Copy editor unemployment rate by year
| Year | Copy editor unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 7.55% |
| 2011 | 6.88% |
| 2012 | 5.99% |
| 2013 | 6.94% |
| 2014 | 5.63% |
| 2015 | 4.60% |
| 2016 | 4.23% |
| 2017 | 3.44% |
| 2018 | 4.10% |
| 2019 | 2.52% |
| 2020 | 5.60% |
| 2021 | 5.26% |
Average copy editor tenure
The average copy editor stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 11,933 copy editors resumes in Zippia's database.
Copy editor tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 27% |
| 1-2 years | 35% |
| 3-4 years | 12% |
| 5-7 years | 12% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 8% |
Copy editor LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of copy editors that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| News Photographer/Editor | 10.10% | 7,009 |
| Program Director/Morning Show Host | 10.34% | 71,725 |
| Sustainability Internship | 12.01% | 48,244 |
| Copy Editor | 12.38% | - |
| Deaf Interpreter | 14.90% | 3,676 |
| Program Writer | 16.36% | 67,545 |
| Public Address Announcer | 16.36% | 9,474 |
Similar copy editor jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| News Photographer/Editor | 10.10% | 7,009 |
| Program Director/Morning Show Host | 10.34% | 71,725 |
| Sustainability Internship | 12.01% | 48,244 |
| Deaf Interpreter | 14.90% | 3,676 |
| Program Writer | 16.36% | 67,545 |
| Public Address Announcer | 16.36% | 9,474 |
Foreign languages spoken by copy editors
The most common foreign language among copy editors is Spanish at 43.1%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 20.6% and German is the third-most popular at 7.4%.
- Spanish, 43.1%
- French, 20.6%
- German, 7.4%
- Italian, 5.4%
- Russian, 3.4%
- Other, 20.1%
Copy editor languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 43.1% |
| French | 20.6% |
| German | 7.4% |
| Italian | 5.4% |
| Russian | 3.4% |
| Other | 20.1% |
