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Executive editor salary
Average executive editor salary
$110,541
Average Executive Editor Salary
The average salary for an Executive Editor in the United States is $110,541 per year. This can vary based on experience, location, and the specific industry. For instance, Executive Editors in New York tend to earn higher than those in other states due to the cost of living and demand for high-quality content. Additionally, salaries may increase with experience, as seasoned professionals bring valuable insights and leadership skills to their roles.
Salary by State
Executive Editors in states like California and Texas report higher salaries than the national average, reflecting the competitive job market and larger media landscape. In contrast, regions with fewer opportunities may see lower average salaries. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for professionals aiming to negotiate their compensation effectively.
Highest Paying Cities
Several cities stand out for high-paying Executive Editor positions. San Francisco, New York City, and Washington, D.C. are known for offering attractive salaries due to their significant media presence and demand for top-tier editorial talent. Therefore, aspiring Executive Editors should consider relocating to these areas to maximize their earning potential.
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Where can an Executive Editor earn more?
Average executive editor salary by state
The average executive editor salary in New York, Connecticut, and New Hampshire are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average executive editor salary states are Iowa, South Dakota, and Nebraska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for executive editors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $134,787 | $64.80 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $129,816 | $62.41 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $125,494 | $60.33 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $111,188 | $53.46 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $112,907 | $54.28 |
| 6 | Virginia | $111,017 | $53.37 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $123,300 | $59.28 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $108,980 | $52.39 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $106,584 | $51.24 |
| 10 | Maine | $105,465 | $50.70 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $101,456 | $48.78 |
| 12 | Maryland | $109,965 | $52.87 |
| 13 | Vermont | $104,065 | $50.03 |
| 14 | Delaware | $105,399 | $50.67 |
| 15 | Michigan | $93,150 | $44.78 |
| 16 | Ohio | $92,117 | $44.29 |
| 17 | Illinois | $93,229 | $44.82 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $90,718 | $43.61 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $86,885 | $41.77 |
| 20 | South Carolina | $84,241 | $40.50 |
| 21 | Georgia | $84,221 | $40.49 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $82,129 | $39.49 |
| 23 | Tennessee | $78,972 | $37.97 |
| 24 | Florida | $80,722 | $38.81 |
| 25 | Texas | $76,960 | $37.00 |
| 26 | Alabama | $74,748 | $35.94 |
| 27 | California | $79,495 | $38.22 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $73,234 | $35.21 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $71,903 | $34.57 |
| 30 | Nevada | $74,971 | $36.04 |
| 31 | Arizona | $73,249 | $35.22 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $74,861 | $35.99 |
| 33 | Indiana | $70,528 | $33.91 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $69,822 | $33.57 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $66,649 | $32.04 |
| 36 | Idaho | $60,398 | $29.04 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $62,706 | $30.15 |
| 38 | Washington | $62,453 | $30.03 |
| 39 | Colorado | $60,388 | $29.03 |
| 40 | Utah | $58,109 | $27.94 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $53,271 | $25.61 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $52,129 | $25.06 |
| 43 | Iowa | $50,968 | $24.50 |
| 44 | Missouri | $51,686 | $24.85 |
| 45 | Kansas | $51,060 | $24.55 |
| 46 | Oregon | $52,436 | $25.21 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $42,878 | $20.61 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $40,902 | $19.66 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $40,685 | $19.56 |
| 50 | Alaska | $34,676 | $16.67 |
| 51 | Montana | $35,551 | $17.09 |
Highest paying cities for executive editors
The highest-paying cities for executive editors are New York, NY, Washington, DC, and Needham, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $154,379 | $74.22 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $135,548 | $65.17 |
| 3 | Needham, MA | $118,856 | $57.14 |
| 4 | Portland, ME | $115,893 | $55.72 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $98,125 | $47.18 |
| 6 | Duluth, GA | $86,099 | $41.39 |
| 7 | Modesto, CA | $84,352 | $40.55 |
| 8 | Anchorage, AK | $34,441 | $16.56 |
Executive editor salary details
An executive editor's salary ranges from $43,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $278,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an executive editor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $278,000 | $23,167 | $134 |
| 75th Percentile | $179,000 | $14,917 | $86 |
| Average | $110,541 | $9,212 | $53 |
| 25th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| 10th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
Highest paying executive editor jobs
The highest paying types of executive editors are senior editor, managing editor, and editor, freelance.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Editing Internship | $35,035 | $2,920 | $16.84 | 49,315 |
| Editorial Internship | $32,356 | $2,696 | $15.56 | 51,667 |
| Editor, Freelance | $67,947 | $5,662 | $32.67 | 8,608 |
| Editor/Director | $53,599 | $4,467 | $25.77 | 9,107 |
| Writer And Editor | $61,482 | $5,124 | $29.56 | 14,865 |
| Managing Editor | $89,060 | $7,422 | $42.82 | 16,781 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for executive editors, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Paul Mitchell Ph.D.
Coordinator of Recruitment and Retention, University of Nevada - Reno
Top companies hiring executive editors now:
Which companies pay executive editors the most?
Executive editor salaries at American Media and Condé Nast are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average executive editor salary at companies like Penske Media and The Walt Disney Company are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Media | $158,762 | $76.33 |
| 2 | Condé Nast | $158,059 | $75.99 |
| 3 | Penske Media | $154,267 | $74.17 |
| 4 | The Walt Disney Company | $148,401 | $71.35 |
| 5 | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory | $135,335 | $65.06 |
| 6 | McGraw Hill | $132,918 | $63.90 |
| 7 | Accenture | $128,254 | $61.66 |
| 8 | Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia | $123,805 | $59.52 |
| 9 | Chicago Public Media | $115,811 | $55.68 |
| 10 | University of Illinois Springfield | $111,436 | $53.58 |
| 11 | Newsmax Media, Inc. | $95,047 | $45.70 |
| 12 | International Data Group | $91,726 | $44.10 |
| 13 | Diversified Communications | $88,903 | $42.74 |
| 14 | Scholastic | $88,069 | $42.34 |
| 15 | WSN | $64,417 | $30.97 |
| 16 | Own The Room | $53,872 | $25.90 |
| 17 | McClatchy | $36,190 | $17.40 |
| 18 | University of Alaska | $32,591 | $15.67 |
| 19 | Lee Enterprises | $31,272 | $15.03 |
| 20 | Barnes & Noble | $29,620 | $14.24 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Executive editor salary trends
The average executive editor salary has risen by $19,214 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average executive editor earned $91,327 annually, but today, they earn $110,541 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for executive editors over the last decade.
Compare executive editor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average executive editor salary over time
Compare executive editor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Executive editor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $111,000 | $53.14 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $107,000 | $51.44 | +3.1% |
| 2023 | $104,000 | $49.86 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $102,000 | $49.26 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $99,700 | $47.96 | +2.1% |
Recently added executive editor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salesforce.com, Inc. | Director, Executive Editor, Salesforce Newsroom | New York, NY | 06/12/2025 | $193,800 |
| Salesforce.com, Inc. | Director, Executive Editor, Salesforce Newsroom | Ione, CA | 06/12/2025 | $193,800 |
| Rockefeller University | Executive Editor | Journal of Experimental Medicine | New York, NY | 05/18/2025 | $110,000 |
| Columbia University In The City of New York | Executive Editor, Columbia Journalism Review | New York, NY | 05/15/2025 | $200,000 |
| Conde Nast | Executive Editor, Them | New York, NY | 05/11/2025 | $115,000 |
| University of Alaska System | Executive Editor, The Northern Light | Anchorage, AK | 04/30/2025 | $35,479 |
| Hachette Book Group | Senior Editor or Executive Editor, Basic Venture | New York, NY | 04/30/2025 | $90,000 |
| Conde Nast | Executive Editor, Self | New York, NY | 04/28/2025 | $160,000 |
| Sourcebooks | Executive Editor-Bloom Books | New York, NY | 04/27/2025 | $90,000 |
| Accelerate360 | Deputy Executive Editor-US Weekly | Fine, NY | 04/15/2025 | $110,000 |
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