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The average salary for a Scientific Publications Editor is approximately $67,588 per year, translating to about $32 per hour. This position is vital in the publishing industry, where editors play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of scientific communication. Salary levels can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific field of publication.
Some of the highest-paying states for this role include California, New York, and Massachusetts. In these regions, the demand for skilled editors is high, leading to competitive salaries. For instance, in California, the average salary can exceed $75,000, driven by the concentration of research institutions and publishing companies.
With the rise of digital publications and the increasing need for clear scientific communication, opportunities for Scientific Publications Editors are expanding. Positions are available in academic institutions, research organizations, and publishing companies, making this a viable career path for those interested in the intersection of science and communication.
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The highest-paying states for scientific publications editors are Connecticut, New Hampshire, and New York. The lowest average scientific publications editor salary states are Kansas, South Dakota, and Montana.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $85,496 | $41.10 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $89,940 | $43.24 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $86,645 | $41.66 |
| 4 | Virginia | $74,841 | $35.98 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $76,224 | $36.65 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $79,684 | $38.31 |
| 7 | California | $80,455 | $38.68 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $74,633 | $35.88 |
| 9 | Vermont | $71,731 | $34.49 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $70,497 | $33.89 |
| 11 | Maryland | $73,528 | $35.35 |
| 12 | Illinois | $70,040 | $33.67 |
| 13 | Maine | $69,631 | $33.48 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $70,566 | $33.93 |
| 15 | Delaware | $68,999 | $33.17 |
| 16 | Nevada | $68,199 | $32.79 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $69,864 | $33.59 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $66,289 | $31.87 |
| 19 | Washington | $67,434 | $32.42 |
| 20 | Michigan | $66,842 | $32.14 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $70,572 | $33.93 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $64,731 | $31.12 |
| 23 | Texas | $63,429 | $30.49 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $60,728 | $29.20 |
| 25 | Ohio | $63,932 | $30.74 |
| 26 | Arizona | $65,372 | $31.43 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $58,961 | $28.35 |
| 28 | Alaska | $55,721 | $26.79 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $57,985 | $27.88 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $61,933 | $29.78 |
| 31 | Georgia | $60,740 | $29.20 |
| 32 | Utah | $54,929 | $26.41 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $56,973 | $27.39 |
| 34 | Oregon | $52,323 | $25.16 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $55,124 | $26.50 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $52,724 | $25.35 |
| 37 | Florida | $54,993 | $26.44 |
| 38 | Alabama | $55,629 | $26.74 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $58,152 | $27.96 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $56,298 | $27.07 |
| 41 | Idaho | $49,069 | $23.59 |
| 42 | Iowa | $54,420 | $26.16 |
| 43 | Colorado | $54,182 | $26.05 |
| 44 | Indiana | $49,653 | $23.87 |
| 45 | Montana | $41,867 | $20.13 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $47,999 | $23.08 |
| 47 | Missouri | $41,374 | $19.89 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $42,275 | $20.32 |
| 49 | Kansas | $42,574 | $20.47 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $37,090 | $17.83 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $40,128 | $19.29 |
The highest-paying cities for scientific publications editors are New York, NY, Buffalo, NY, and Cambridge, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $85,807 | $41.25 |
| 2 | Buffalo, NY | $82,812 | $39.81 |
| 3 | Cambridge, MA | $75,978 | $36.53 |
| 4 | Somerville, MA | $75,947 | $36.51 |
| 5 | Lexington, MA | $75,878 | $36.48 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $70,942 | $34.11 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $70,725 | $34.00 |
| 8 | Providence, RI | $70,381 | $33.84 |
| 9 | Columbus, OH | $63,303 | $30.43 |
| 10 | Indianapolis, IN | $49,146 | $23.63 |
A scientific publications editor's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $128,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $128,000 | $10,667 | $62 |
| 75th Percentile | $94,000 | $7,833 | $45 |
| Average | $67,588 | $5,632 | $32 |
| 25th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
The highest paying types of scientific publications 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 |
| Editor | $52,107 | $4,342 | $25.05 | 15,115 |
| Copy Editor | $62,599 | $5,217 | $30.10 | 4,866 |
Top companies hiring scientific publications editors now:
Scientific publications editor salaries at Eli Lilly and Company and Ohio State University Medical Center are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average scientific publications editor salary at companies like University at Buffalo and The Rockefeller University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eli Lilly and Company | $126,032 | $60.59 |
| 2 | Ohio State University Medical Center | $119,377 | $57.39 |
| 3 | University at Buffalo | $98,641 | $47.42 |
| 4 | The Rockefeller University | $95,998 | $46.15 |
| 5 | The University of Chicago | $93,796 | $45.09 |
| 6 | Boston Society of Architects | $78,151 | $37.57 |
| 7 | RELX | $63,319 | $30.44 |
| 8 | Care New England Health System | $62,391 | $30.00 |
| 9 | Lilly & Company | $62,304 | $29.95 |
The average scientific publications editor salary has risen by $11,748 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average scientific publications editor earned $55,840 annually, but today, they earn $67,588 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for scientific publications editors over the last decade.
Compare scientific publications editor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare scientific publications editor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $67,600 | $32.49 | +3.2% |
| 2025 | $65,400 | $31.45 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $63,400 | $30.49 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $62,700 | $30.12 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $61,000 | $29.32 | +2.1% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USP | Scientific Editor | Rockville, MD | 06/17/2025 | $67,431 |
| The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP | Scientific Editor | Rockville, MD | 06/16/2025 | $67,431 |
| Leidos | Scientific Editor | San Diego, CA | 05/15/2025 | $50,700 |
| Yoh, A Day & Zimmermann Company | Scientific Editor II (Early-Stage Drug Development) | Cambridge, MA | 07/26/2024 | $73,045 |
| Yoh, A Day & Zimmermann Company | Scientific Editor II (Early-Stage Drug Development) | Cambridge, MA | 07/26/2024 | $73,045 |
| Rockefeller University | Scientific Editor | Rockefeller University Press (*Temporary Opportunity) | New York, NY | 05/30/2024 | $83,000 |
| The Rockefeller University | JGP Scientific Editor | New York, NY | 02/16/2024 | $86,965 |
| The Rockefeller University | JGP Scientific Editor | New York, NY | 02/16/2024 | $86,965 |
| NYU Langone Medical Center | Scientific Editor (1123719_Rr00087883) | New York, NY | 02/13/2024 | $97,590 |
| University of Colorado | Scientific Editor Open Rank | Aurora, CO | 10/13/2023 | $63,702 |
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