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Editor in chief salary
Average editor in chief salary
$54,751
Average Editor in Chief Salary
The average salary for an Editor in Chief is currently $54,751 per year, translating to approximately $26 per hour. This figure reflects a range of factors including geographic location and industry. For instance, urban centers often offer higher salaries compared to rural areas.
Where Can You Earn More?
Exploring different states reveals that salary variations exist. States like California and New York typically provide higher compensation for this role due to the high cost of living and robust media markets. Cities such as New York City, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. are among the highest-paying locations.
Impact of Experience
Experience plays a significant role in salary potential. Entry-level positions may start at lower salaries, but seasoned editors often command significantly higher pay. Understanding these dynamics can inform career decisions for those wishing to enter this competitive field. Whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned professional, familiarizing yourself with these salary trends is crucial for career advancement.
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Where can an Editor In Chief earn more?
Average editor in chief salary by state
The highest-paying states for editors in chief are New York, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. The lowest average editor in chief salary states are Iowa, Louisiana, and Kansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for editors in chief
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $74,242 | $35.69 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $71,603 | $34.42 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $65,138 | $31.32 |
| 4 | Virginia | $61,786 | $29.70 |
| 5 | Washington | $61,961 | $29.79 |
| 6 | Vermont | $58,516 | $28.13 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $61,734 | $29.68 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $69,127 | $33.23 |
| 9 | California | $61,851 | $29.74 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $61,610 | $29.62 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $56,974 | $27.39 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $61,713 | $29.67 |
| 13 | Delaware | $55,515 | $26.69 |
| 14 | Illinois | $57,301 | $27.55 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $56,657 | $27.24 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $49,635 | $23.86 |
| 17 | Maine | $58,154 | $27.96 |
| 18 | Nevada | $52,471 | $25.23 |
| 19 | Michigan | $53,663 | $25.80 |
| 20 | Idaho | $55,047 | $26.46 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $55,054 | $26.47 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $55,192 | $26.53 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $55,182 | $26.53 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $48,662 | $23.40 |
| 25 | Arizona | $47,557 | $22.86 |
| 26 | Maryland | $46,267 | $22.24 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $46,234 | $22.23 |
| 28 | Oregon | $43,012 | $20.68 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $48,726 | $23.43 |
| 30 | Georgia | $46,071 | $22.15 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $45,868 | $22.05 |
| 32 | Alaska | $39,007 | $18.75 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $45,017 | $21.64 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $46,492 | $22.35 |
| 35 | Ohio | $44,997 | $21.63 |
| 36 | Montana | $40,829 | $19.63 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $44,826 | $21.55 |
| 38 | Colorado | $43,215 | $20.78 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $43,163 | $20.75 |
| 40 | Texas | $39,974 | $19.22 |
| 41 | Utah | $38,053 | $18.29 |
| 42 | Alabama | $42,166 | $20.27 |
| 43 | Florida | $36,483 | $17.54 |
| 44 | Indiana | $39,896 | $19.18 |
| 45 | Iowa | $36,436 | $17.52 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $38,742 | $18.63 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $32,125 | $15.44 |
| 48 | Kansas | $35,215 | $16.93 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $35,561 | $17.10 |
| 50 | Missouri | $33,496 | $16.10 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $30,433 | $14.63 |
Highest paying cities for editors in chief
The highest-paying cities for editors in chief are New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $74,552 | $35.84 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $66,644 | $32.04 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $65,167 | $31.33 |
| 4 | Hamilton, NJ | $61,686 | $29.66 |
| 5 | Charlottesville, VA | $61,032 | $29.34 |
| 6 | Fort Collins, CO | $43,652 | $20.99 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $40,265 | $19.36 |
| 8 | Overland Park, KS | $35,223 | $16.93 |
Editor in chief salary details
An editor in chief's salary ranges from $36,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $81,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an editor in chief's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $81,000 | $6,750 | $39 |
| 75th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| Average | $54,751 | $4,563 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
Highest paying editor in chief jobs
The highest paying types of editors in chief are senior editor, managing editor, and publisher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Publisher | $71,539 | $5,962 | $34.39 | 10,303 |
| Production Editor | $53,275 | $4,440 | $25.61 | 62,877 |
| Writer And Editor | $61,482 | $5,124 | $29.56 | 14,865 |
| Technical Editor | $61,717 | $5,143 | $29.67 | 78,423 |
| Managing Editor | $89,060 | $7,422 | $42.82 | 16,781 |
| Content Editor | $61,694 | $5,141 | $29.66 | 18,586 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for Editors in chief, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Paul Mitchell Ph.D.
Coordinator of Recruitment and Retention, University of Nevada - Reno
Top companies hiring editors in chief now:
Which companies pay editors in chief the most?
Editor in chief salaries at Broadridge and General Dynamics are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average editor in chief salary at companies like Johnson County Community College and Wild Iris are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Broadridge | $80,488 | $38.70 |
| 2 | General Dynamics | $61,467 | $29.55 |
| 3 | Johnson County Community College | $55,328 | $26.60 |
| 4 | Wild Iris | $53,843 | $25.89 |
| 5 | Journal of World History | $53,310 | $25.63 |
| 6 | M.O.M Project | $53,278 | $25.61 |
| 7 | Freedom House | $52,877 | $25.42 |
| 8 | Nes Holdings | $52,205 | $25.10 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Editor in chief salary trends
The average editor in chief salary has risen by $9,517 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average editor in chief earned $45,234 annually, but today, they earn $54,751 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for editors in chief over the last decade.
Compare editor in chief salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average editor in chief salary over time
Compare editor in chief salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Editor in chief salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $54,800 | $26.32 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $53,000 | $25.48 | +3.1% |
| 2023 | $51,400 | $24.70 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $50,800 | $24.40 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $49,400 | $23.75 | +2.1% |
Recently added editor in chief salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springernature | Chief Editor, Nature Geoscience | New York, NY | 06/27/2025 | $130,000 |
| Springernature | Locum Chief Editor, BMC Genome Medicine | New York, NY | 05/27/2025 | $130,000 |
| The Texas Tribune | Editor-In-Chief, The Austin Newsroom | Austin, TX | 05/11/2025 | $100,000 |
| Lexis Nexis | Editor-In-Chief, Law360 Pulse | Day, NY | 04/28/2025 | $133,300 |
| University of Michigan (The Regents @ Ann Arbor | Editor In Chief (Student/Work Study) | Ann Arbor, MI | 04/25/2025 | $35,479 |
| Lexis Nexis | Editor-In-Chief, Law360 Pulse | Day, NY | 03/28/2025 | $133,300 |
| Oregon State University | Orange Media Network (OMN) Summer Baro Editor-In-Chief 2025 | Corvallis, OR | 03/15/2025 | $30,679 |
| Northwestern University | Director & Editor-In-Chief, Kellogg Insight | Evanston, IL | 01/24/2025 | $110,000 |
| Springernature | Chief Editor, Nature Synthesis | New York, NY | 12/09/2024 | $120,000 |
| Springer Nature America | Chief Editor, Nature Synthesis | Fine, NY | 12/05/2024 | $120,000 |
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