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Job outlook for newspaper copy editors in the United States
Are newspaper copy editor jobs in demand?
Newspaper copy editor job and salary trends over time
Newspaper copy editor jobs over time
Newspaper copy editor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 34 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 36 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 37 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 37 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 38 | 0.00% |
Average newspaper copy editor salary over time
Newspaper copy editor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $51,992 | $25.00 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $50,328 | $24.20 | +3.2% |
| 2023 | $48,778 | $23.45 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $48,195 | $23.17 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $46,916 | $22.56 | +2.1% |
Newspaper copy editor jobs by state
Most common states for newspaper copy editors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 84 | 12% |
| 2 | New York | 19,849,399 | 448 | 2% |
| 3 | California | 39,536,653 | 233 | 1% |
| 4 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 112 | 1% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 74 | 1% |
| 6 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 52 | 1% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 52 | 1% |
| 8 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 44 | 1% |
| 9 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 38 | 1% |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 29 | 1% |
| 11 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 21 | 1% |
| 12 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 13 | 1% |
| 13 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 11 | 1% |
| 14 | Alaska | 739,795 | 10 | 1% |
| 15 | Delaware | 961,939 | 9 | 1% |
| 16 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 9 | 1% |
| 17 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 8 | 1% |
| 18 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 4 | 1% |
| 19 | Vermont | 623,657 | 4 | 1% |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 64 | 0% |
Newspaper Copy Editor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of newspaper copy editor experts
Furman University
California University of Pennsylvania
Ferrum College
Professor Margaret Oakes
Professor of EnglishFurman University
English Language And Literature
What general advice would you give to a Newspaper Copy Editor?
Professor Margaret Oakes: Understand that you should be looking at a salary mid-career, not right now. And look at the possibility for promotion in your place of work - a small family business will not be able to or be interested in promoting you to a leadership position, so think about if you will need to move up or out.
What Newspaper Copy Editor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Professor Margaret Oakes: The ability to read carefully and analytically. This is a skill that has declined in the past couple of decades as people obtain more information visually - but a visual presentation cannot carry the amount of detail that written language can, and carelessness in the use of language causes a world of problems in every area of human life (law, medicine, politics, etc.).
What will help Newspaper Copy Editors increase their earning potential?
Professor Margaret Oakes: Our graduates have such a variety of careers with an English major that this is hard to answer. But perhaps this is the answer - English majors have such widely applicable skills that they need to be alert to how they can be applied almost anywhere, and be prepared to sell their skills to a potential employer.
What type of skills will young Newspaper Copy Editors need?
Dr. Christina Fisanick: College graduates in 2021 and beyond, need all of the skills that English programs have to offer: critical thinking, effective communication, creativity, and flexibility. New hires need to be able to adapt to workplace changes quickly and with aplomb, which requires critical thinking and problem solving and the ability to communicate those solutions to a diverse audience clearly and effectively. Those skills are refined and practiced regularly in English programs.
What general advice would you give to a Newspaper Copy Editor?
Allison Harl Ph.D.: Develop as many multimedia skills as possible. Writing in the 21st century is about visual rhetoric as well as just words on a page.