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Design editor salary
Average design editor salary
$55,142
Design Editor Salary Overview
The role of a Design Editor is crucial in shaping the visual elements of publications and digital content. As of October 2025, the average salary stands at $55,142 per year, translating to about $27 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on experience, location, and industry type.
Salary by Experience
Entry-level design editors typically earn lower wages, while those with several years of experience can command higher salaries. For instance, design editors with over five years in the industry can earn upwards of $70,000 annually.
Top Paying States
Design editors in states like California, New York, and Washington tend to receive the highest salaries. Understanding these regional salary differences can be essential for job seekers aiming to maximize their earning potential.
Job Opportunities
Design editors can find opportunities in various sectors, including media, marketing, and education. Networking and continuous learning are vital for career advancement in this competitive field.
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Where can a Design Editor earn more?
Design editor salary estimates from across the web
Average design editor salary by state
The average design editor salary in New York, Connecticut, and Virginia are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average design editor salary states are Iowa, Montana, and Missouri.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for design editors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $65,787 | $31.63 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $65,699 | $31.59 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $69,338 | $33.34 |
| 4 | Virginia | $61,183 | $29.41 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $58,258 | $28.01 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $57,946 | $27.86 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $55,951 | $26.90 |
| 8 | California | $57,328 | $27.56 |
| 9 | Delaware | $54,787 | $26.34 |
| 10 | Michigan | $51,728 | $24.87 |
| 11 | Illinois | $57,797 | $27.79 |
| 12 | Washington | $53,234 | $25.59 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $55,264 | $26.57 |
| 14 | Maryland | $59,127 | $28.43 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $57,081 | $27.44 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $57,139 | $27.47 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $47,511 | $22.84 |
| 18 | Ohio | $51,445 | $24.73 |
| 19 | Texas | $49,555 | $23.82 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $57,013 | $27.41 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $51,619 | $24.82 |
| 22 | Idaho | $49,648 | $23.87 |
| 23 | Colorado | $50,252 | $24.16 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | $49,600 | $23.85 |
| 25 | Arizona | $47,750 | $22.96 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $49,223 | $23.66 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $49,744 | $23.92 |
| 28 | Nevada | $50,186 | $24.13 |
| 29 | Georgia | $50,222 | $24.15 |
| 30 | Rhode Island | $49,500 | $23.80 |
| 31 | Florida | $49,620 | $23.86 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $48,929 | $23.52 |
| 33 | Utah | $45,970 | $22.10 |
| 34 | Vermont | $46,269 | $22.24 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $47,717 | $22.94 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $48,461 | $23.30 |
| 37 | Alabama | $45,593 | $21.92 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $44,206 | $21.25 |
| 39 | Oregon | $38,957 | $18.73 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $46,919 | $22.56 |
| 41 | Maine | $44,738 | $21.51 |
| 42 | Alaska | $34,409 | $16.54 |
| 43 | Iowa | $36,413 | $17.51 |
| 44 | Montana | $36,327 | $17.46 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $36,845 | $17.71 |
| 46 | Kansas | $36,711 | $17.65 |
| 47 | Indiana | $41,064 | $19.74 |
| 48 | Missouri | $35,255 | $16.95 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $37,616 | $18.08 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $32,268 | $15.51 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $32,598 | $15.67 |
Highest paying cities for design editors
The highest-paying cities for design editors are New York, NY, Baltimore, MD, and Chicago, IL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $66,374 | $31.91 |
| 2 | Baltimore, MD | $59,207 | $28.46 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $58,133 | $27.95 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $56,090 | $26.97 |
| 5 | Anaheim, CA | $55,619 | $26.74 |
| 6 | Raleigh, NC | $50,892 | $24.47 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $47,888 | $23.02 |
| 8 | Charlotte, NC | $47,402 | $22.79 |
Design editor salary details
A design editor's salary ranges from $37,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $81,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a design editor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $81,000 | $6,750 | $39 |
| 75th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| Average | $55,142 | $4,595 | $27 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
Highest paying design editor jobs
The highest paying types of design 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 |
| Design Internship | $45,791 | $3,816 | $22.01 | 97,018 |
| Photo Editor | $63,168 | $5,264 | $30.37 | 10,068 |
| Copy Editor | $62,599 | $5,217 | $30.10 | 4,866 |
Top companies hiring design editors now:
Which companies pay design editors the most?
Design editor salaries at Nordstrom and Mission are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average design editor salary at companies like Within and MediaNews Group are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nordstrom | $58,237 | $28.00 |
| 2 | Mission | $55,512 | $26.69 |
| 3 | Within | $54,832 | $26.36 |
| 4 | MediaNews Group | $53,840 | $25.88 |
| 5 | Tribune Publishing | $51,673 | $24.84 |
| 6 | Gannett | $49,165 | $23.64 |
| 7 | McClatchy | $47,715 | $22.94 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Design editor salary trends
The average design editor salary has risen by $9,585 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average design editor earned $45,557 annually, but today, they earn $55,142 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for design editors over the last decade.
Compare design editor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average design editor salary over time
Compare design editor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Design editor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $55,100 | $26.51 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $53,400 | $25.66 | +3.1% |
| 2023 | $51,700 | $24.87 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $51,100 | $24.57 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $49,800 | $23.92 | +2.1% |
Recently added design editor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holtzbrinck Publishing Group | Designer, Fablelistik Editions | New York, NY | 06/09/2025 | $60,000 |
| MacMillan | Designer, Fablelistik Editions | New York, NY | 05/29/2025 | $60,000 |
| Kroenke Sports Enterprises | Audio Editor/Sound Design | Tulsa, OK | 03/29/2025 | $35,000 |
| Jellyfish | Senior Motion Designer & Editor | Los Angeles, CA | 03/27/2025 | $115,000 |
| Jellyfish Group | Senior Motion Designer & Editor | Los Angeles, CA | 03/12/2025 | $115,000 |
| New York Post | Design Editor | New York, NY | 03/08/2025 | $66,784 |
| Freedomroads | Editor/Motion Designer | Chicago, IL | 02/18/2025 | $59,745 |
| Camping World | Editor/Motion Designer | Chicago, IL | 02/12/2025 | $59,745 |
| Pima Community College | Design Editor (Temporary | Tucson, AZ | 01/30/2025 | $57,393 |
| Pima Community College Foundation Inc. | Design Editor (Temporary | Tucson, AZ | 11/26/2024 | $52,175 |
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