Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The average salary for a Publication Editor is approximately $58,830 per year, translating to about $28 per hour. These figures can vary based on factors such as experience, location, and the specific industry you work in. For instance, Publication Editors in high-demand sectors or metropolitan areas often earn more than their counterparts in smaller markets.
States like California and New York consistently rank among the highest for Publication Editor salaries, largely due to the concentration of media and publishing companies. However, even within states, salaries can differ significantly depending on the specific city or region.
Publication Editors working in sectors like technology or healthcare may also enjoy higher compensation due to the specialized knowledge required. As you consider your career path, reviewing salary trends across various industries can provide valuable insights into where you might find the best opportunities.
By staying informed about salary expectations and trends, you can strategically navigate your career as a Publication Editor and optimize your earning potential.
Let Zippi find your next publication editor job
Let Zippi find your next publication editor job
The average publication editor salary in Connecticut, New Hampshire, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average publication editor salary states are South Dakota, Montana, and Missouri.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $72,311 | $34.76 |
| 2 | California | $70,192 | $33.75 |
| 3 | New York | $65,448 | $31.47 |
| 4 | Virginia | $63,097 | $30.34 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $71,125 | $34.19 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $66,234 | $31.84 |
| 7 | Illinois | $61,456 | $29.55 |
| 8 | Vermont | $59,633 | $28.67 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $57,607 | $27.70 |
| 10 | Maryland | $60,865 | $29.26 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $59,604 | $28.66 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $58,626 | $28.19 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $62,234 | $29.92 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $60,303 | $28.99 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $59,756 | $28.73 |
| 16 | Delaware | $56,509 | $27.17 |
| 17 | Maine | $59,099 | $28.41 |
| 18 | Michigan | $55,682 | $26.77 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $55,272 | $26.57 |
| 20 | Washington | $54,585 | $26.24 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $54,861 | $26.38 |
| 22 | Georgia | $54,960 | $26.42 |
| 23 | Ohio | $54,406 | $26.16 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $52,174 | $25.08 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $52,216 | $25.10 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $50,829 | $24.44 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $52,403 | $25.19 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $56,495 | $27.16 |
| 29 | Texas | $51,987 | $24.99 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $51,226 | $24.63 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $52,568 | $25.27 |
| 32 | Colorado | $51,853 | $24.93 |
| 33 | Nevada | $50,629 | $24.34 |
| 34 | Utah | $48,999 | $23.56 |
| 35 | Alabama | $49,581 | $23.84 |
| 36 | Florida | $48,102 | $23.13 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $51,326 | $24.68 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $47,631 | $22.90 |
| 39 | Arizona | $50,018 | $24.05 |
| 40 | Iowa | $48,834 | $23.48 |
| 41 | Idaho | $42,328 | $20.35 |
| 42 | Oregon | $40,084 | $19.27 |
| 43 | Alaska | $36,447 | $17.52 |
| 44 | Indiana | $43,624 | $20.97 |
| 45 | Missouri | $37,487 | $18.02 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $39,970 | $19.22 |
| 47 | Kansas | $39,176 | $18.83 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $38,921 | $18.71 |
| 49 | Montana | $38,349 | $18.44 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $34,235 | $16.46 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $35,087 | $16.87 |
The highest-paying cities for publication editors are Los Angeles, CA, Washington, DC, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $69,869 | $33.59 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $66,267 | $31.86 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $65,590 | $31.53 |
| 4 | McLean, VA | $63,655 | $30.60 |
| 5 | Quincy, MA | $58,665 | $28.20 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $54,830 | $26.36 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $51,845 | $24.93 |
| 8 | Omaha, NE | $34,305 | $16.49 |
A publication editor's salary ranges from $44,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $77,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $77,000 | $6,417 | $37 |
| 75th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
| Average | $58,830 | $4,903 | $28 |
| 25th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
| 10th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
The highest paying types of publication 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 |
| Editor/Director | $53,599 | $4,467 | $25.77 | 9,107 |
| News Editor | $53,822 | $4,485 | $25.88 | 12,484 |
| Editor | $52,107 | $4,342 | $25.05 | 15,115 |
Top companies hiring publication editors now:
Publication editor salaries at SAIC and Georgetown University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average publication editor salary at companies like Colorado Public Radio and Middle East Broadcasting Network are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SAIC | $65,661 | $31.57 |
| 2 | Georgetown University | $58,647 | $28.20 |
| 3 | Colorado Public Radio | $53,583 | $25.76 |
| 4 | Middle East Broadcasting Network | $50,372 | $24.22 |
| 5 | University of Nebraska Medical Center | $46,018 | $22.12 |
The average publication editor salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $64,852 | $31.18 |
| 2 | Non Profits | $58,525 | $28.14 |
| 3 | Professional | $57,170 | $27.49 |
| 4 | Health Care | $56,289 | $27.06 |
| 5 | Government | $55,908 | $26.88 |
| 6 | Education | $54,247 | $26.08 |
| 7 | Media | $51,569 | $24.79 |
The average publication editor salary has risen by $10,226 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average publication editor earned $48,604 annually, but today, they earn $58,830 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for publication editors over the last decade.
Compare publication editor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare publication editor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $58,800 | $28.28 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $56,900 | $27.38 | +3.1% |
| 2023 | $55,200 | $26.53 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $54,500 | $26.22 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $53,100 | $25.52 | +2.1% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Missouri System | Audience Impact Editor-Harvest Public Media, Kcur, 94715 | Kansas City, MO | 06/29/2025 | $59,738 |
| University of Arkansas | Publications Editor | Bono, AR | 03/30/2025 | $48,000 |
| University of Arkansas | Publications Editor | Fort Smith, AR | 02/18/2025 | $48,000 |
| Kalamazoo Bee School | Publication Editor | Grand Rapids, MI | 02/18/2025 | $65,000 |
| SIFF Cinema Passes & Ticket Bundles-SIFF | Festival Publications Editor | Seattle, WA | 02/18/2025 | $45,914 |
| National Association of Hispanic Journalists | Publication Editor | Kalamazoo, MI | 02/17/2025 | $65,000 |
| Brightplus3 | Publication Editor | Grand Rapids, MI | 02/17/2025 | $65,000 |
| The Florida Bar | Attorney-Legal Publications Editor | Noma, FL | 02/16/2025 | $77,497 |
| University of Arkansas | Publications Editor | Bono, AR | 01/26/2025 | $48,000 |
| SIFF | Festival Publications Editor | Seattle, WA | 01/17/2025 | $45,914 |
Search for publication editor jobs