Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Science editor salary
Average science editor salary
$62,220
Understanding the Science Editor Salary
The average salary for a Science Editor is approximately $62,220 per year, translating to about $30 per hour. Salaries can differ based on factors like location, experience, and the specific field of science you are editing for. In metropolitan areas or industries such as pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, salaries tend to be higher.
Salary by State
Science Editors in states like California and New York typically earn more due to the higher cost of living and concentration of publishing houses. For example, the highest paying states often include:
- California
- New York
- Massachusetts
- Washington
Additionally, experience plays a significant role in salary potential. Entry-level positions may start lower, but with experience, Science Editors can expect substantial salary increases. As the demand for scientific communication grows, so do the opportunities for advancement. Monitoring industry trends and pursuing continuing education can further enhance earning potential.
Let Zippi find your next science editor job
Let Zippi find your next science editor job
Where can a Science Editor earn more?
Science editor salary estimates from across the web
Average science editor salary by state
The highest-paying states for science editors are New York, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. The lowest average science editor salary states are Montana, South Dakota, and Missouri.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for science editors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $92,330 | $44.39 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $80,750 | $38.82 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $84,127 | $40.45 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $72,550 | $34.88 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $75,248 | $36.18 |
| 6 | Nevada | $64,608 | $31.06 |
| 7 | Vermont | $65,746 | $31.61 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $67,229 | $32.32 |
| 9 | Virginia | $70,577 | $33.93 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $69,747 | $33.53 |
| 11 | Illinois | $69,242 | $33.29 |
| 12 | California | $75,054 | $36.08 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $65,605 | $31.54 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $64,013 | $30.78 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $66,164 | $31.81 |
| 16 | Maine | $63,823 | $30.68 |
| 17 | Washington | $68,299 | $32.84 |
| 18 | Delaware | $64,735 | $31.12 |
| 19 | Maryland | $69,296 | $33.32 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $61,897 | $29.76 |
| 21 | Michigan | $63,289 | $30.43 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $68,177 | $32.78 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $61,991 | $29.80 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $56,801 | $27.31 |
| 25 | Ohio | $61,589 | $29.61 |
| 26 | Utah | $59,870 | $28.78 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $57,168 | $27.48 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $58,181 | $27.97 |
| 29 | Arizona | $59,831 | $28.76 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $58,486 | $28.12 |
| 31 | Texas | $60,619 | $29.14 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $60,046 | $28.87 |
| 33 | Idaho | $52,099 | $25.05 |
| 34 | Colorado | $58,547 | $28.15 |
| 35 | Georgia | $60,095 | $28.89 |
| 36 | Oregon | $52,491 | $25.24 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $57,476 | $27.63 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $55,368 | $26.62 |
| 39 | Montana | $42,841 | $20.60 |
| 40 | Iowa | $54,622 | $26.26 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $42,722 | $20.54 |
| 42 | Alabama | $55,114 | $26.50 |
| 43 | Florida | $51,870 | $24.94 |
| 44 | Wisconsin | $53,375 | $25.66 |
| 45 | Alaska | $39,575 | $19.03 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $45,776 | $22.01 |
| 47 | Indiana | $49,241 | $23.67 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $39,793 | $19.13 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $38,126 | $18.33 |
| 50 | Kansas | $44,333 | $21.31 |
| 51 | Missouri | $42,409 | $20.39 |
Highest paying cities for science editors
The highest-paying cities for science editors are New York, NY, Santa Clara, CA, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $92,543 | $44.49 |
| 2 | Santa Clara, CA | $79,894 | $38.41 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $75,208 | $36.16 |
| 4 | Cambridge, MA | $72,414 | $34.81 |
| 5 | Galveston, TX | $60,584 | $29.13 |
| 6 | Durham, NC | $58,704 | $28.22 |
| 7 | Milwaukee, WI | $53,616 | $25.78 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $51,795 | $24.90 |
Science editor salary details
A science editor's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $108,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a science editor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $108,000 | $9,000 | $52 |
| 75th Percentile | $83,000 | $6,917 | $40 |
| Average | $62,220 | $5,185 | $30 |
| 25th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
Highest paying science editor jobs
The highest paying types of science 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 |
| Photo Editor | $63,168 | $5,264 | $30.37 | 10,068 |
| Copy Editor | $62,599 | $5,217 | $30.10 | 4,866 |
Top companies hiring science editors now:
Which companies pay science editors the most?
Science editor salaries at The Washington Post and UTMB HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average science editor salary at companies like University of Texas System and RELX are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Washington Post | $101,852 | $48.97 |
| 2 | UTMB HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS | $69,603 | $33.46 |
| 3 | University of Texas System | $69,007 | $33.18 |
| 4 | RELX | $55,734 | $26.80 |
| 5 | Research Square | $55,653 | $26.76 |
| 6 | UWorld | $55,480 | $26.67 |
| 7 | Gannett | $55,209 | $26.54 |
| 8 | Paramount | $51,754 | $24.88 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Science editor salary trends
The average science editor salary has risen by $10,815 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average science editor earned $51,405 annually, but today, they earn $62,220 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for science editors over the last decade.
Compare science editor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average science editor salary over time
Compare science editor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Science editor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $62,200 | $29.91 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $60,200 | $28.96 | +3.1% |
| 2023 | $58,400 | $28.06 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $57,700 | $27.73 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $56,100 | $26.99 | +2.1% |
Recently added science editor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The New York Times Company | Health and Science Editor | New York, NY | 06/27/2025 | $200,000 |
| Warner Bros Discovery Inc. | Science Editor, CNN | Washington, DC | 03/27/2025 | $73,500 |
| Warner Bros Discovery Inc. | Science Editor, CNN | Atlanta, GA | 03/27/2025 | $73,500 |
| Warner Bros Discovery Inc. | Science Editor, CNN | New York, NY | 03/27/2025 | $73,500 |
| Warner Bros Discovery Inc. | Science Editor, CNN | Burbank, CA | 03/27/2025 | $73,500 |
| National Academy of Engineering | Editor-Division On Engineering and Physical Sciences | Key Center, WA | 02/27/2025 | $70,880 |
| National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine | Editor-Division On Engineering and Physical Sciences | Key Center, WA | 02/18/2025 | $70,880 |
| National Academy of Sciences | Editor-Division On Engineering and Physical Sciences | Washington, DC | 02/17/2025 | $70,880 |
| The Washington Post | Health & Science Editor | Washington, DC | 02/08/2025 | $137,300 |
| National Academy of Sciences | Editor-Division On Engineering and Physical Sciences | Key Center, WA | 02/03/2025 | $70,880 |
Science editor salary FAQs
Search for science editor jobs