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Acquisitions editor salary
Average acquisitions editor salary
$60,342
Understanding Acquisitions Editor Salaries
The role of an Acquisitions Editor is vital in the publishing industry, focusing on sourcing and acquiring manuscripts and other content. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is approximately $60,342 per year. However, salaries can fluctuate significantly based on various factors such as experience, geographic location, and the type of publication.
Salary Variations by State
For example, Acquisitions Editors in states like New York and California often see higher salaries due to the cost of living and industry concentration. In contrast, positions in less populated areas might offer lower salaries but may also come with reduced living costs. Generally, candidates with more experience or specialized skills can command higher pay.
Job Opportunities
Job seekers can enhance their prospects by exploring roles at major publishing houses, academic institutions, or digital media companies. Understanding the salary landscape can help you negotiate better compensation packages and identify the best opportunities for growth in your career.
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Where can an Acquisitions Editor earn more?
Acquisitions editor salary estimates from across the web
Average acquisitions editor salary by state
The highest-paying states for acquisitions editors are New York, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. The lowest average acquisitions editor salary states are South Dakota, Alaska, and Montana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for acquisitions editors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $91,986 | $44.22 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $81,778 | $39.32 |
| 3 | Virginia | $68,527 | $32.95 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $72,983 | $35.09 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $78,694 | $37.83 |
| 6 | Vermont | $64,293 | $30.91 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $65,544 | $31.51 |
| 8 | Maryland | $67,317 | $32.36 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $67,865 | $32.63 |
| 10 | Illinois | $66,005 | $31.73 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $64,233 | $30.88 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $65,187 | $31.34 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $64,957 | $31.23 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $63,595 | $30.57 |
| 15 | California | $65,802 | $31.64 |
| 16 | Washington | $63,401 | $30.48 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $61,772 | $29.70 |
| 18 | Michigan | $60,963 | $29.31 |
| 19 | Delaware | $62,916 | $30.25 |
| 20 | Ohio | $59,264 | $28.49 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $58,569 | $28.16 |
| 22 | Texas | $57,938 | $27.85 |
| 23 | Maine | $62,592 | $30.09 |
| 24 | Nevada | $60,095 | $28.89 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $59,307 | $28.51 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $53,372 | $25.66 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $55,701 | $26.78 |
| 28 | Utah | $54,902 | $26.40 |
| 29 | Georgia | $58,149 | $27.96 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $56,085 | $26.96 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $56,795 | $27.31 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $56,083 | $26.96 |
| 33 | Colorado | $54,838 | $26.36 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $55,420 | $26.64 |
| 35 | Arizona | $56,157 | $27.00 |
| 36 | Oregon | $48,469 | $23.30 |
| 37 | Florida | $50,578 | $24.32 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $51,009 | $24.52 |
| 39 | Idaho | $47,814 | $22.99 |
| 40 | Alabama | $53,242 | $25.60 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $53,541 | $25.74 |
| 42 | Iowa | $51,857 | $24.93 |
| 43 | Alaska | $40,813 | $19.62 |
| 44 | Indiana | $46,989 | $22.59 |
| 45 | Missouri | $40,178 | $19.32 |
| 46 | Montana | $40,617 | $19.53 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $36,287 | $17.45 |
| 48 | Kansas | $41,841 | $20.12 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $44,081 | $21.19 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $40,847 | $19.64 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $38,219 | $18.37 |
Highest paying cities for acquisitions editors
The highest-paying cities for acquisitions editors are Ossining, NY, Washington, DC, and Berkeley, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ossining, NY | $92,317 | $44.38 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $73,069 | $35.13 |
| 3 | Berkeley, CA | $71,243 | $34.25 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $65,490 | $31.49 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $63,942 | $30.74 |
| 6 | College Station, TX | $58,170 | $27.97 |
| 7 | Cary, NC | $56,870 | $27.34 |
| 8 | Salt Lake City, UT | $54,575 | $26.24 |
| 9 | Mount Pleasant, SC | $53,205 | $25.58 |
| 10 | Gainesville, FL | $50,771 | $24.41 |
Acquisitions editor salary details
An acquisitions editor's salary ranges from $34,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $105,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an acquisitions editor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $105,000 | $8,750 | $50 |
| 75th Percentile | $80,000 | $6,667 | $38 |
| Average | $60,342 | $5,029 | $29 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
Highest paying acquisitions editor jobs
The highest paying types of acquisitions editors are senior editor, managing editor, and senior writer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Content Writer | $58,918 | $4,910 | $28.33 | 19,621 |
| Staff Writer | $44,844 | $3,737 | $21.56 | 80,547 |
| Grant Writer | $52,719 | $4,393 | $25.35 | 16,708 |
| Proposal Writer | $68,706 | $5,725 | $33.03 | 18,125 |
| Writer | $66,143 | $5,512 | $31.80 | 13,931 |
| Technical Writer | $65,329 | $5,444 | $31.41 | 75,090 |
Top companies hiring acquisitions editors now:
Which companies pay acquisitions editors the most?
Acquisitions editor salaries at SAGE Publishing and Oxford University Press are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average acquisitions editor salary at companies like American Chemical Society and Stanford University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SAGE Publishing | $99,217 | $47.70 |
| 2 | Oxford University Press | $97,401 | $46.83 |
| 3 | American Chemical Society | $97,153 | $46.71 |
| 4 | Stanford University | $91,323 | $43.91 |
| 5 | Arcadia Publishing | $90,048 | $43.29 |
| 6 | VitalChek | $78,803 | $37.89 |
| 7 | Amazon | $77,718 | $37.36 |
| 8 | Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi | $61,976 | $29.80 |
| 9 | Hachette Book Group | $61,961 | $29.79 |
| 10 | University of Florida | $56,908 | $27.36 |
| 11 | RELX | $56,524 | $27.18 |
| 12 | Pearson | $55,794 | $26.82 |
| 13 | Lifeway Kefir | $50,907 | $24.47 |
| 14 | Life Way Christian School | $44,901 | $21.59 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Acquisitions editor salary trends
The average acquisitions editor salary has risen by $10,489 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average acquisitions editor earned $49,853 annually, but today, they earn $60,342 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for acquisitions editors over the last decade.
Compare acquisitions editor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average acquisitions editor salary over time
Compare acquisitions editor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Acquisitions editor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $60,300 | $29.01 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $58,400 | $28.08 | +3.1% |
| 2023 | $56,600 | $27.22 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $55,900 | $26.89 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $54,500 | $26.18 | +2.1% |
Recently added acquisitions editor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hachette Book Group | Senior Acquisitions Editor/Editor Trade & Specialty | Brentwood, TN | 06/29/2025 | $70,000 |
| Hachette Book Group | Senior Acquisitions Editor/Editor Trade & Specialty | New York, NY | 06/13/2025 | $70,000 |
| Human Kinetics | Acquisitions Editor II-Trade & Professional Division | Champaign, IL | 05/24/2025 | $63,000 |
| Oxford University Press | Acquisition Editor | Fine, NY | 05/15/2025 | $67,844 |
| The Goodheart-Willcox Co | Acquisitions Editor-Business, Computing, and Career | Tinley Park, IL | 05/08/2025 | $90,000 |
| Esri | SR. Acquisitions Editor-Esri Press | Redlands, CA | 04/28/2025 | $70,720 |
| University of Utah | Acquisitions Editor | Salt Lake City, UT | 03/23/2025 | $55,000 |
| Amazon | Acquisitions Editor, Amazon Publishing | New York, NY | 03/09/2025 | $71,700 |
| Amazon | Acquisition Editor, Amazon Publishing, Amazon Publishing | New York, NY | 02/18/2025 | $71,700 |
| Amazon.com, Inc. | Acquisition Editor, Amazon Publishing, Amazon Publishing | Seattle, WA | 02/18/2025 | $71,700 |
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