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Job outlook for senior editors in the United States
Senior editor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected senior editor job growth rate is -5% from 2018-2028.
About -5,500 new jobs for senior editors are projected over the next decade.
Senior editor salaries have increased 11% for senior editors in the last 5 years.
There are over 38,662 senior editors currently employed in the United States.
There are 12,150 active senior editor job openings in the US.
The average senior editor salary is $90,094.
Are senior editor jobs in demand?
Senior editor job and salary trends over time
Senior editor jobs over time
Senior editor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 38,662 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 40,661 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 41,793 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 41,697 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 42,194 | 0.01% |
Average senior editor salary over time
Senior editor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $90,094 | $43.31 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $87,210 | $41.93 | +3.2% |
| 2023 | $84,524 | $40.64 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $83,515 | $40.15 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $81,298 | $39.09 | +2.1% |
Senior editor jobs by state
Most common states for senior editors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 218 | 31% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 328 | 5% |
| 3 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 319 | 5% |
| 4 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 27 | 5% |
| 5 | New York | 19,849,399 | 826 | 4% |
| 6 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 360 | 4% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 185 | 4% |
| 8 | Alaska | 739,795 | 31 | 4% |
| 9 | Vermont | 623,657 | 22 | 4% |
| 10 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,012 | 3% |
| 11 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 208 | 3% |
| 12 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 88 | 3% |
| 13 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 53 | 3% |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 206 | 2% |
| 15 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 202 | 2% |
| 16 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 80 | 2% |
| 17 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 40 | 2% |
| 18 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 33 | 2% |
| 19 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 30 | 2% |
| 20 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 15 | 2% |
Most common cities for senior editors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangor | 2 | 6% | $79,709 |
| 2 | Annapolis | 2 | 5% | $67,881 |
| 3 | Belleville | 2 | 5% | $79,575 |
| 4 | Bethesda | 2 | 3% | $67,722 |
| 5 | Bossier City | 2 | 3% | $65,258 |
| 6 | Boulder | 2 | 2% | $80,728 |
| 7 | Atlanta | 5 | 1% | $84,072 |
| 8 | Des Moines | 3 | 1% | $58,528 |
| 9 | Anchorage | 2 | 1% | $57,801 |
| 10 | Chula Vista | 2 | 1% | $100,519 |
| 11 | Los Angeles | 4 | 0% | $101,613 |
Senior Editor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of senior editor experts
California State University - Sacramento
Belmont University
Furman University
Southern Illinois University
California State University, Fresno
University of Pittsburgh
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
University of Wisconsin - Madison
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Lehigh University
Luther College
California State University
Colorado Public Radio
Florida Atlantic University
Kansas State University
The University of Kentucky
Arkansas State University
American Society of Magazine Editors
California University of Pennsylvania
Viola Ardeni
Assistant Professor & Italian Language Area HeadCalifornia State University - Sacramento
Romance Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
What general advice would you give to a Senior Editor?
Viola Ardeni: To recent graduates in any field, I would recommend making sure they are doing two things: 'Ask questions' and 'Show up.' In the Romance languages, literatures, and linguistics field, asking questions may mean asking for a long of informational interviews, even in places where there are no current jobs openings. You never know what you will learn from talking to someone who is working and has your same degree. Asking questions also means to be present, aware, and critical. Showing up may instead mean trying different things. Besides teaching, there is no clear job following degrees in Romance languages etc. (and even 'teaching' includes a variety of jobs), so taking advantage of different opportunities may come in handy.
What Senior Editor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Viola Ardeni: The editing of texts produced by others, above all. Being good editors will be crucial. In addition, to the ability to summarize in short, easy bit very large and complex amounts of information, possibly coming from different linguistic sources. Diplomacy seems also increasingly useful, however you interpret it and wherever you stand politically. Because of the world's areas where Romance languages are mainly used, the political issues associated with those areas, and the lack of institutional support for studies in Romance languages, literatures, and linguistics in the United States, the ability of being diplomatic in navigating people, committees, donors, stakeholders, speakers, etc. is and will be important.
What will help Senior Editors increase their earning potential?
Viola Ardeni: Negotiate your job offer, even where your position is represented by a labor union (you may negotiate other perks and benefits). I would also recommend considering extremely carefully whether a higher degree in the field (master's or PhD) would enhance your options for a higher salary. The mental, emotional, and financial cost of graduate studies may not make it worth it, if the primary objective is earning more money.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Editor?
Sara Wigal M.A.: Listen up. Sitting in on meetings where you aren't working is a learning experience and way to better understand everyone else's tasks and how the company works. It's great ammunition for asking considerate questions, which help you learn and also help you put a good foot forward in earning respect from more senior colleagues. Also, read widely, and if you're not a non-fiction reader, try to read a little bit of that too! Self-help, business books, even topical reading can help you grow (and makes you a much more interesting person to talk to). Don't stress reading all the "big books" but rather develop your personal taste while keeping general tabs on what is happening in the literary world.
What Senior Editor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Sara Wigal M.A.: Most entry-level salaries in publishing are non-negotiable-they're based on hardline budgets. If you are looking for wiggle room for that first job in terms of compensation, you should ask, but be prepared to instead look to the benefits package for ensuring you receive the maximum. After 1-2 years you should be able to negotiate a wage increase. This is a bit different from some other entertainment industries, but I don't see it changing particularly soon for most publishing companies. Most people in publishing have a great skill set they can use to freelance even at an earlier stage in their career if they need to.
What will help Senior Editors increase their earning potential?
Sara Wigal M.A.: Even as we experience a second digital revolution, many of the same skills that publishing professionals have used for decades are pertinent. Developmental editing or keen and creative marketing management have been skills that carry many people through their careers, and that won't change. Being an excellent communicator in both written word (hello, email) and in person is also a way to set yourself apart from your peers, and that's nothing new. Having a growth mindset is vital (and sometimes hard to do, but worth it). Understanding how to collect, analyze and disseminate data is becoming more important in publishing and is requisite in marketing positions. For those who want to work in social media, video production skills are key.
Professor Margaret Oakes
Professor of EnglishFurman University
English Language And Literature
What general advice would you give to a Senior Editor?
Professor Margaret Oakes: Understand that you should be looking at a salary mid-career, not right now. And look at the possibility for promotion in your place of work - a small family business will not be able to or be interested in promoting you to a leadership position, so think about if you will need to move up or out.
What will help Senior Editors increase their earning potential?
Professor Margaret Oakes: Our graduates have such a variety of careers with an English major that this is hard to answer. But perhaps this is the answer - English majors have such widely applicable skills that they need to be alert to how they can be applied almost anywhere, and be prepared to sell their skills to a potential employer.
What Senior Editor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Professor Margaret Oakes: The ability to read carefully and analytically. This is a skill that has declined in the past couple of decades as people obtain more information visually - but a visual presentation cannot carry the amount of detail that written language can, and carelessness in the use of language causes a world of problems in every area of human life (law, medicine, politics, etc.).
What will help Senior Editors increase their earning potential?
Catherine Wilbur: For advice, find something you're passionate about. Not all English majors want to be teachers, and that's ok. There are 100s of other career paths for English majors. Such as lawyers, copyeditors, speechwriters, journalists, politicians, business, etc. Explore the different jobs out there that you may be qualified for with an English degree.
Antonio Martinez
Associate Professor of Photography/Intermedia Arts, Faculty Advisor, Movie Camera Movement (MCM) and Photogenesis, Editor, Lux MagazineSouthern Illinois University
School of Art and Design
What skills will help Senior Editors earn the most?
Antonio Martinez: It depends on the genre and geographical market. Editing a fashion model's face, an athlete's body, an engagement, and wedding, a trendy sportscar, an e-commerce product line, or even a super expensive wristwatch requires a solid understanding of color correction, masking, and tonal adjustments. Any Art Director will look for a talented photo editor who can elevate the ordinary to the extraordinary in a timely manner.
Our alumni working in the industry have noted the impact of a good photo can now be measured in monetary terms, simply by the online metrics connected from the time a photo is posted and a viewer clicks, shares, and buys a service or product. This means a photographer/photo editor can articulate and advocate their worth to their employer.
Let's be clear for a second. Before a photo editor receives an image to edit, hopefully, the photographer has a strong command of the lighting and exposure to make things less difficult for a photo editor. If not, then the pressure is on the photo editor to bring a mediocre image to greatness. If this is the case, then the miracle-working photo editor deserves a raise or fair compensation for such talent and experience.
Looking ahead, I would advise photo editors to look at 3D imaging software programs like Blender or Maya and incorporate texture mapping programs and services such as Quixel's Megascans to generate photorealistic product shots or environments. The other obvious way to diversify a photo editor's skill set is to explore color grading if you are in partnership with a videographer or keep a pulse on VR technology and venture towards applying your skills to VR editing possibilities. Having an additional tangentially related skill relevant to photo editing will help open a door or, in the least, set one apart from others.
Betsy Hays
ChairCalifornia State University, Fresno
Department of Media, Communications and Journalism
What general advice would you give to a Senior Editor?
Betsy Hays: Do informational interviews to build your network. Ask folks about their career path, the scope of their jobs, their biggest successes, advice they have for someone just starting out, etc. And then ask if they have ideas for other people that would be good to talk to. And then keep going! Also, be obsessed with thank you notes.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Editor job market given the pandemic?
Betsy Hays: Having the ability to successfully work remotely will be more important than ever, as will being able to effectively communicate in virtual spaces. And, post-pandemic, being able to do things in a hybrid fashion - part in person and part online - will also make job candidates much more marketable.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Editors?
Gayle Rogers: Definitely. First-year students had the strangest introduction to college one could imagine-nothing like what "college" is supposed to be. And they are still living it, with remote classes, social distancing, and few of the in-person bonding experiences that we associate with college as a whole. That will never be erased from their memories. Students who just graduated or are graduating this spring, on the other hand, are taking with them those distinct experiences into the workplace, graduate or professional schools-wherever life takes them. (It pains many of us, as teachers and administrators, that they did not have the robust graduation celebration that we all wanted them to have.) They will remember how their college experience was shaped by the pandemic, of course, but they will also have bonded with one another in uniquely difficult ways.
Aaron DeRosa Ph.D.
Associate Professor, 20th/21st C. American LiteratureCalifornia State Polytechnic University, Pomona
College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Editors?
Aaron DeRosa Ph.D.: Many of our students work and go to school at the same time, so the pandemic's impact is being lived right now. The pandemic only exacerbates problems already embedded in the labor market: a move toward contingent labor and freelance work. This generation of graduates will be asked to continue jumping from job to job, never allowed to settle into a "career." The flip side is that the precarity of these jobs and their ability to move through different work environments will make them more versatile critical thinkers and more compassionate people.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Editors?
Patricia Hastings: I think there will be some enduring impacts on graduating journalism students in a number of ways. Right now, there are some obstacles to negotiate. The first is the jobs situation. First, many newsrooms don't have internships right now, and so students can't get that extra experience that will ultimately help them land a job. I see seniors who have some, but not enough experience and they need that last push outside of the classroom and campus media. Without that, it makes job hunting more difficult. Of course, there are the economic issues. So many places have downsized their newsrooms and that is a problem. Graduates have to be nimble, too, in terms of having a good toolbox of skills. Now, if you want a job, go into TV news producing. You can't find enough people to fill what is out there. There are TV news reporting jobs out there as well. It comes down to networking and having a "reel" or examples of your work to show.
And then there are the impacts we don't know. Many staffers are working from home. Will jobs change so more reporters work from home? How do you balance that with the fact that reporters should be out covering stories? The pandemic is causing a rethink on the office of the future-space, risk and other areas that we can only guess at right now.
What type of skills will young Senior Editors need?
Patricia Hastings: Young graduates will need a few skills outside of the usual ones for a good journalism job. They will have to be able to interview for jobs via Zoom or whatever system is used. That's a different skill set than being in person. I also believe students will have to work harder to "brand" themselves. Why should someone hire you? Do the resume and work examples say "I am the go to person for getting this done?" Make an elevator pitch for yourself and see how hard it is to do. The usual skills still need to be there-video, social, maybe audio-because that's what it takes today.
I also think graduates needs to be aware of the information that's out there, and be suspicious or know enough to check for accuracy. If a photo is digitally manipulated, will you know? How can you tell? In my opinion, this is maybe the biggest skill needed. What is balanced and researched as to what is created to satisfy some agenda? This has and will continue to be an area to watch.
What experience really stands out on Senior Editor resumes?
Patricia Hastings: The experience I think everyone needs is video, for those who aren't going into that area. Everyone uses video. Having an understanding of how to make your message or story translate to video is important and it's not that easy to do. That, and the ability to enterprise story ideas. Actually taking an idea and turning into a story for online, or broadcast or print is key. You can't tell the story the same way for each one, and so to analyze and then make a good story is important.
Dr. Anthony Cuda Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Associate HeadUniversity of North Carolina at Greensboro
Department of English
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Editor job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Anthony Cuda Ph.D.: Obviously work that can be done remotely is at a premium, and writers in particular will benefit from this. Freelance writers have long worked remotely and on their own schedule. The shift now will involve science writers, technical writers, corporate communications professionals-anyone who knows how to put sentences together with clarity, elegance, and professionalism. So the ability to write well-the way that English majors are trained to-is key to capitalizing on the trends.
Jack Lule Ph.D.
Lacocca ProfessorLehigh University
Department of Journalism and Communication
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Editors?
Jack Lule Ph.D.: I think the pandemic will have enduring impacts on many aspects of life, from restaurants to public transportation to city living-to, not in the least, journalism. Many media organizations were already quite fragile because of the ongoing loss of advertisers and paying subscribers. The pandemic hastened their demise. Ironically, in some ways, that is good news for college graduates. The news organizations that remain will have truly endured the worst of times and will be looking to grow.
Another more subtle aspect of the pandemic for journalism careers is the renewed respect for local news. Social media and the big media corporations are great at covering national and international news. But, during the pandemic, where did people go for news on how the virus was affecting their own schools, towns, restaurants, hospitals, sports? The local news media. I think the pandemic will actually help strengthen local news media and provide really interesting jobs.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Editors?
David Faldet: Their senior year is going to be memorable: a year of trials and challenges and disappointments that will set them apart from people who came before them. The virtual education and networked learning required for the eighteen months leading up to their graduation will also give them good credentials as they enter the work-from-home or connect-remotely environment of business today.
What experience really stands out on Senior Editor resumes?
David Faldet: Number one, employers want to see initiative, but they want to see that you know how to work within an organization, too. They are also looking for skills older employees may lack, such as ease with social media or new technologies. Finally, even though they may hire you for your youth, they may be ten, twenty, or thirty years older than you, and they want to feel you understand and can talk to them. That will matter a lot.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Editor?
Aaron Quinn Ph.D.: Practice, practice, practice. Seek feedback from experienced practitioners, and don't let your ego stunt your growth. I would do the exact same thing if I went back to working in a newsroom again, and this is something that as a department we seek out from our advisory board of professionals. We craft our practice-based curriculum in large part based on feedback from professionals, even if it sometimes runs contrary to our intuitions and biases.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Editor job market given the pandemic?
Rachel Estabrook: In my opinion, in terms of journalism jobs, the need for these jobs is only getting bigger in the pandemic. But the finances of almost every news outlet have suffered. Even in nonprofit media, sponsorships have declined as businesses don't have events to promote, for example. So hiring may be a bit more stagnant than it otherwise would have been. Unfortunately, you're also seeing journalists furloughed and even let go sometimes when outlets are forced to contract given the economic pressures.
Mitchell Roshel
Career Center Senior Liaison to the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and LettersFlorida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University Career Center
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Senior Editors to find work opportunities?
Mitchell Roshel: English majors pursue career paths in many areas such as:
-Advertising
-Content Marketing
-Copywriting
-Journalism
-Publishing
-Law
Any of the major cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Miami would be good places to find opportunities. However, many employers in these industries are now allowing employees to work virtually. Especially during Covid.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Editors?
Naomi Wood Ph.D.: Yes. There can't help but be one - just as there was an impact on graduates during the 2008 financial crisis. Graduates will be forced to improvise, be entrepreneurial, and be creative.
What I will add about English and other humanities majors is that they are particularly well-suited to deal with this level of chaos and uncertainty because they have always known they're going to have to explore and grow. There is no one path to follow - and our graduates vindicate our confidence that they can find their way!
What type of skills will young Senior Editors need?
Naomi Wood Ph.D.: Communication skills, both oral and written; ability to work in a team; leadership experience; ability to problem-solve and invent. A growth mindset and readiness to keep learning.
Jeff Rice Ph.D.
Professor, ChairThe University of Kentucky
Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Senior Editors to find work opportunities?
Jeff Rice Ph.D.: Many. In government, in the entertainment industries, in lobbying, in fashion, in design, in law, as digital content creators, as social media managers, and in every profession - beer, wine, food, horse industry, jewelry, construction, engineering of various sorts, manufacturing, and so on - there is writing. Writing for general audiences, writing for investors, writing for those within the industry, writing for marketing, writing for information dissemination, and so on - every industry has writing. During COVID, the government and health agencies, for example, have greatly struggled to use writing properly to persuade a general American audience how to properly protect itself. COVID needs vaccines. It also needs writing in order to show people why they should wear masks, wash their hands, and keep social distance. And, as noted, it needs writing to keep Americans updated as well as to offer analysis, critique, and so on.
What skills stand out on Senior Editor resumes?
Jeff Rice Ph.D.: Research skills. Written and digital communication skills. Knowledge of digital tools - whether Adobe products, podcasting software, and such - but also how to use the tools to reach audiences, create sticky content, develop brands, send information, persuade, and inform. It's one thing to know how to create a movie or poster or infographic or report or Instagram post; it's another thing to have the rhetorical and writing skills to properly use that tool to create information for a specific audience.
What skills stand out on Senior Editor resumes?
Dr. Ronald Sitton Ph.D.: Writing will always be an important skill. Even if someone prefers to be a broadcast journalist or photojournalist, most news outlets keep an internet presence, which requires great writing such that the public can find out additional information unavailable through a photograph or in the time constraints of a broadcast medium. Whether graduates prefer to remain in the industry or seek employment elsewhere, every employer wants to hire someone who can willingly communicate their ideas precisely and concisely.
Reporting skills will also remain important as employers need employees who understand how to properly research and vet information prior to publication. They must know how and when to ask the difficult questions that provide insights into contentious issues. Prior to beginning work, reporters must pitch their ideas, which is a skill that also is useful outside of the industry.
With the continual movement of publications to online outlets, knowledge of content management systems (e.g., WordPress) becomes even more important than it previously was. Knowledge of standard industry software including Photoshop and InDesign is almost mandatory, while video editing skills will stand out even more due to the amount of video now gathered through internet interviews. Graduates entering the field with a multiplatform skill set will possess skills a lot of veteran journalists are still learning.
It's expected that journalists understand the necessity of using critical thinking, being dependable, making deadlines, and adapting to change. Showing how they've previously done this rather than just telling that they can will stand out to employers.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Editor job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Ronald Sitton Ph.D.: Although the pandemic definitely presents a challenge to incoming journalists, the bigger challenge may be the news deserts popping up throughout the country. Fewer outlets mean fewer traditional opportunities. Those entering the industry will not only be competing with other graduates, but also with veteran journalists now seeking employment. The pandemic adds another layer: many interviews will be conducted over the internet instead of in-person. Those who aren't professional in these interviews face additional hiring challenges, e.g., nobody's going to hire someone who interviews from their bed in pajamas.
Yet those who can be comfortable and professional in an internet interview will show potential employers that they can be expected to conduct themselves professionally in a setting that's becoming increasingly common. The pandemic continues to require journalists to innovate when obtaining information. For example, instead of being able to visit a source in their professional setting, now they will often see the source work from home. Noticing how the source chooses to present themselves in that setting will provide details for stories the general public might not otherwise see. Will their animals or children walk in and out during the interview? How does the source react to interruptions? As a result, journalists have an opportunity to make their sources more "human" for the audience.
Although much has gone online, it will still be necessary for broadcast journalists to gather B-roll and natural sound for their work. It will still be necessary for print and online journalists to include photography with their written work. Journalism isn't a job for people who want to stay home during the pandemic.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Editor?
Sidney Holt: The biggest challenge facing editorial hopefuls is uncertainty. Magazines and websites were already experiencing unprecedented challenges as the consumption of media changed and publishers shifted from advertising-supported to reader-supported business models. The pandemic only accelerated those trends. For new graduates, that means fewer opportunities to work for established brands (and where those opportunities do exist, it means working remotely, at least for the foreseeable future, which in turn means fewer opportunities to enjoy the kind of one-on-one training that furthered the careers of previous generations of writers and editors).
That's the downside. The upside is that the skills and energy young journalists can bring to a media organization are especially valuable during a period of extraordinary change. But you have to be prepared to be resilient. Not only is "the gold watch after 50 years" gone; you have expect you won't be in any job very long, at least in the early years of your career.
How do you envision technology impacting Senior Editors in the next 5 years?
Dr. Christina Fisanick: Given that English majors are placed in a broad range of fields after graduation, it is difficult to identify which specific technologies will be used most, which is why critical thinking and adaptability are key skills. I can imagine that editing and word processing software will remain in heavy use by our graduates in the workplace, along with social media and other communication applications. Exposing students to the many possibilities of how technology changes the production and consumption of texts is vital to what English programs do best.
What type of skills will young Senior Editors need?
Dr. Christina Fisanick: College graduates in 2021 and beyond, need all of the skills that English programs have to offer: critical thinking, effective communication, creativity, and flexibility. New hires need to be able to adapt to workplace changes quickly and with aplomb, which requires critical thinking and problem solving and the ability to communicate those solutions to a diverse audience clearly and effectively. Those skills are refined and practiced regularly in English programs.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Senior Editors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Christina Fisanick: Although employers prior to COVID-19 knew that remote work was not only possible, but in some cases even more productive than in the traditional workplace, the pandemic has reinforced the idea that employees can work from anywhere in the world. While this gives graduates the potential to work globally in a way that was never possible before, it also means that English majors in the US are now competing in a worldwide marketplace against graduates from universities, not just in their region or country, but from around the globe. It is both exciting and intimidating, and we must prepare our graduates to meet the demands of this ever-expanding job market.