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Associate editor salary
Average associate editor salary
$55,999
Average Associate Editor Salary
The salary for an Associate Editor typically reflects a range of factors including experience, location, and industry. As of October 2025, the average salary stands at $55,999 annually. However, this figure can be influenced by the specific sector in which an editor works. For instance, those in digital media often command different salaries compared to those in traditional publishing.
How Much Does an Associate Editor Make?
On average, Associate Editors earn about $27 per hour. Entry-level positions may start lower, while those with several years of experience can see their earnings increase significantly, particularly in high-demand markets.
Where Can an Associate Editor Earn More?
Geographic location plays a crucial role in salary variance. States like California and New York often offer higher salaries due to the concentration of media companies and higher living costs. Additionally, specialized sectors such as technology and finance may provide better compensation than more traditional roles.
Average Associate Editor Salary by State
When exploring salary averages by state, editors in metropolitan areas typically see the highest wages. It's essential for prospective Associate Editors to research local job markets and salary trends to ensure they are negotiating effectively for their skills.
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Where can an Associate Editor earn more?
Associate editor salary estimates from across the web
Average associate editor salary by state
The average associate editor salary in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average associate editor salary states are Montana, Iowa, and Utah.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for associate editors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $72,313 | $34.77 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $69,646 | $33.48 |
| 3 | New York | $66,873 | $32.15 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $68,386 | $32.88 |
| 5 | Virginia | $66,384 | $31.92 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $66,121 | $31.79 |
| 7 | California | $64,590 | $31.05 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $67,756 | $32.58 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $55,674 | $26.77 |
| 10 | Vermont | $55,551 | $26.71 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $58,920 | $28.33 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $58,009 | $27.89 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $55,321 | $26.60 |
| 14 | Delaware | $57,312 | $27.55 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $51,323 | $24.67 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $57,351 | $27.57 |
| 17 | Washington | $51,774 | $24.89 |
| 18 | Michigan | $53,762 | $25.85 |
| 19 | Illinois | $49,923 | $24.00 |
| 20 | Maine | $54,490 | $26.20 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $49,887 | $23.98 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $45,570 | $21.91 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $51,882 | $24.94 |
| 24 | Colorado | $49,639 | $23.86 |
| 25 | Georgia | $50,693 | $24.37 |
| 26 | Maryland | $48,324 | $23.23 |
| 27 | Nevada | $49,985 | $24.03 |
| 28 | Idaho | $48,121 | $23.14 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $48,004 | $23.08 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $46,914 | $22.55 |
| 31 | Arizona | $47,642 | $22.90 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $48,249 | $23.20 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $47,938 | $23.05 |
| 34 | Ohio | $46,752 | $22.48 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $44,730 | $21.50 |
| 36 | Oregon | $38,361 | $18.44 |
| 37 | Texas | $44,389 | $21.34 |
| 38 | Minnesota | $44,159 | $21.23 |
| 39 | Alabama | $45,722 | $21.98 |
| 40 | Florida | $40,353 | $19.40 |
| 41 | Alaska | $36,272 | $17.44 |
| 42 | Utah | $34,905 | $16.78 |
| 43 | Indiana | $41,271 | $19.84 |
| 44 | Montana | $35,315 | $16.98 |
| 45 | Missouri | $34,279 | $16.48 |
| 46 | Iowa | $35,297 | $16.97 |
| 47 | Kansas | $35,667 | $17.15 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $38,225 | $18.38 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $30,901 | $14.86 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $35,694 | $17.16 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $32,880 | $15.81 |
Highest paying cities for associate editors
The highest-paying cities for associate editors are Stoughton, MA, San Francisco, CA, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stoughton, MA | $70,069 | $33.69 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $68,565 | $32.96 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $68,441 | $32.90 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $67,208 | $32.31 |
| 5 | Hoboken, NJ | $66,001 | $31.73 |
| 6 | Charlottesville, VA | $65,889 | $31.68 |
| 7 | Easton, PA | $58,076 | $27.92 |
| 8 | Wilmette, IL | $50,490 | $24.27 |
| 9 | Atlanta, GA | $50,425 | $24.24 |
| 10 | Colorado Springs, CO | $50,022 | $24.05 |
| 11 | Silver Spring, MD | $48,305 | $23.22 |
| 12 | Milwaukee, WI | $45,090 | $21.68 |
| 13 | Houston, TX | $44,826 | $21.55 |
| 14 | Mason, OH | $44,524 | $21.41 |
| 15 | Saint Paul, MN | $44,262 | $21.28 |
| 16 | Indianapolis, IN | $41,073 | $19.75 |
| 17 | Doral, FL | $40,730 | $19.58 |
| 18 | Portland, OR | $38,136 | $18.33 |
| 19 | Des Moines, IA | $34,560 | $16.62 |
Associate editor salary details
An associate editor's salary ranges from $39,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $79,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an associate editor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $79,000 | $6,583 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| Average | $55,999 | $4,667 | $27 |
| 25th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| 10th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
Highest paying associate editor jobs
The highest paying types of associate editors are senior editor, managing editor, and writer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journalist | $60,828 | $5,069 | $29.24 | 11,488 |
| Staff Writer | $44,844 | $3,737 | $21.56 | 80,547 |
| Editorial Internship | $32,356 | $2,696 | $15.56 | 51,667 |
| Reporter | $46,667 | $3,889 | $22.44 | 11,179 |
| Writer | $66,143 | $5,512 | $31.80 | 13,931 |
| Content Writer | $58,918 | $4,910 | $28.33 | 19,621 |
Top companies hiring associate editors now:
Which companies pay associate editors the most?
Associate editor salaries at Eli Lilly and Company and American Physical Society are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average associate editor salary at companies like Citi and Regeneron are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eli Lilly and Company | $113,230 | $54.44 |
| 2 | American Physical Society | $100,304 | $48.22 |
| 3 | Citi | $99,722 | $47.94 |
| 4 | Regeneron | $97,822 | $47.03 |
| 5 | WebMD | $94,782 | $45.57 |
| 6 | Horizon Pharma USA, Inc. | $93,561 | $44.98 |
| 7 | Bain & Company | $92,670 | $44.55 |
| 8 | John Wiley & Sons | $92,178 | $44.32 |
| 9 | PRWeek | $90,237 | $43.38 |
| 10 | Cengage Learning | $89,250 | $42.91 |
| 11 | HarperCollins | $83,343 | $40.07 |
| 12 | United States Institute of Peace | $81,550 | $39.21 |
| 13 | SourceMedia | $81,220 | $39.05 |
| 14 | AAAS | $79,657 | $38.30 |
| 15 | Gearbox Software | $79,522 | $38.23 |
| 16 | Kabam | $79,395 | $38.17 |
| 17 | TechTarget | $76,040 | $36.56 |
| 18 | We Communications | $75,629 | $36.36 |
| 19 | NexTier Oilfield Solutions | $71,686 | $34.46 |
| 20 | Florida International University | $70,492 | $33.89 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Associate editor salary trends
The average associate editor salary has risen by $9,733 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average associate editor earned $46,266 annually, but today, they earn $55,999 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for associate editors over the last decade.
Compare associate editor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average associate editor salary over time
Compare associate editor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Associate editor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $56,000 | $26.92 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $54,200 | $26.06 | +3.1% |
| 2023 | $52,500 | $25.26 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $51,900 | $24.96 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $50,500 | $24.29 | +2.1% |
Recently added associate editor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hearst | Associate Editor, Thepioneerwoman.com | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $64,000 |
| Ctr Budget Policy | Associate Editor | Washington, DC | 06/22/2025 | $58,655 |
| University of California System | Associate Editor | Irvine, CA | 06/19/2025 | $85,400 |
| Corporation for Public Broadcasting | Broadcast Host & Associate Editor | Aspen, CO | 06/16/2025 | $65,000 |
| Memorial Hermann Health System | Associate Editor, TV | New York, NY | 06/13/2025 | $67,000 |
| The Walt Disney Company | Associate Editor Audience Engagement | Los Angeles, CA | 06/12/2025 | $57,200 |
| Conde Nast | Associate Editor, Style | New York, NY | 06/09/2025 | $68,500 |
| Gallery Media Group | Associate Editor | New York, NY | 06/09/2025 | $50,000 |
| Sourcebooks | Associate Editor-Adult Non-Fiction | Naperville, IL | 06/05/2025 | $50,000 |
| Gear Patrol | Associate Editor, Automotive | New York, NY | 05/30/2025 | $50,000 |
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