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Best states for a writer and editor
Quoted expert
Tristan Abbott Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Job opportunities vary from state to state, and arts, entertainment, sports, and media careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to writer and editor jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for writer and editors.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of writer and editors in America is $103,000.
The median salary for writer and editors in District of Columbia is $99,570. Compare that to the median salary in Mississippi of $31,712, which ranked worst for writer and editors, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the Midwest is best for writer and editors, and the Northeast is the worst. Washington, DC is the best city in the country for writer and editor jobs, where as District of Columbia is the best state in the country.
10 best states for writer and editors in 2025
1. District of Columbia
Total writer and editor jobs: 227 Average annual salary: $99,570 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location Quotient: 4.52
2. New York
Total writer and editor jobs: 921 Average annual salary: $78,509 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location Quotient: 2.4
3. Virginia
Total writer and editor jobs: 394 Average annual salary: $79,550 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
4. Connecticut
Total writer and editor jobs: 101 Average annual salary: $85,416 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
5. New Jersey
Total writer and editor jobs: 253 Average annual salary: $82,472 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
6. New Hampshire
Total writer and editor jobs: 45 Average annual salary: $82,188 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
7. Massachusetts
Total writer and editor jobs: 384 Average annual salary: $72,127 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
8. Washington
Total writer and editor jobs: 237 Average annual salary: $71,256 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
9. Maryland
Total writer and editor jobs: 350 Average annual salary: $68,569 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 1.84
10. Illinois
Total writer and editor jobs: 352 Average annual salary: $70,604 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
Writer and editor jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a writer and editor
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a writer and editor
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $99,570 | $57,000 | 693,972 | 227 |
| 2 | New York | $78,509 | $44,000 | 19,849,399 | 921 |
| 3 | Virginia | $79,550 | $44,000 | 8,470,020 | 394 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $85,416 | $48,000 | 3,588,184 | 101 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $82,472 | $46,000 | 9,005,644 | 253 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $82,188 | $46,000 | 1,342,795 | 45 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $72,127 | $41,000 | 6,859,819 | 384 |
| 8 | Washington | $71,256 | $39,000 | 7,405,743 | 237 |
| 9 | Maryland | $68,569 | $38,000 | 6,052,177 | 350 |
| 10 | Illinois | $70,604 | $39,000 | 12,802,023 | 352 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $69,609 | $39,000 | 755,393 | 24 |
| 12 | Vermont | $67,005 | $38,000 | 623,657 | 32 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $66,116 | $37,000 | 1,059,639 | 31 |
| 14 | Delaware | $64,584 | $36,000 | 961,939 | 39 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $64,728 | $35,000 | 1,815,857 | 31 |
| 16 | Oregon | $58,510 | $32,000 | 4,142,776 | 213 |
| 17 | Michigan | $62,455 | $35,000 | 9,962,311 | 165 |
| 18 | California | $61,269 | $33,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,131 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $52,137 | $30,000 | 579,315 | 35 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $62,327 | $35,000 | 12,805,537 | 251 |
| 21 | Maine | $65,934 | $37,000 | 1,335,907 | 22 |
| 22 | Idaho | $57,867 | $32,000 | 1,716,943 | 47 |
| 23 | Nevada | $53,808 | $29,000 | 2,998,039 | 77 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $59,116 | $33,000 | 5,576,606 | 150 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $53,747 | $29,000 | 10,273,419 | 287 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $59,117 | $32,000 | 4,454,189 | 55 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $53,827 | $30,000 | 5,795,483 | 117 |
| 28 | Colorado | $51,819 | $30,000 | 5,607,154 | 155 |
| 29 | Ohio | $53,014 | $29,000 | 11,658,609 | 169 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $50,177 | $28,000 | 2,088,070 | 49 |
| 31 | Georgia | $50,490 | $28,000 | 10,429,379 | 207 |
| 32 | Arizona | $49,571 | $27,000 | 7,016,270 | 122 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $47,959 | $27,000 | 3,004,279 | 50 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $48,932 | $28,000 | 3,930,864 | 54 |
| 35 | Montana | $44,273 | $25,000 | 1,050,493 | 34 |
| 36 | Indiana | $48,183 | $26,000 | 6,666,818 | 116 |
| 37 | Utah | $41,159 | $23,000 | 3,101,833 | 109 |
| 38 | Alaska | $38,110 | $25,000 | 739,795 | 39 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $37,508 | $28,000 | 1,427,538 | 27 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $48,413 | $27,000 | 5,024,369 | 68 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $46,860 | $26,000 | 6,715,984 | 89 |
| 42 | Texas | $44,241 | $25,000 | 28,304,596 | 441 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $44,164 | $25,000 | 869,666 | 19 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $37,073 | $21,000 | 1,920,076 | 73 |
| 45 | Alabama | $45,051 | $25,000 | 4,874,747 | 65 |
| 46 | Florida | $40,316 | $23,000 | 20,984,400 | 368 |
| 47 | Missouri | $39,463 | $22,000 | 6,113,532 | 146 |
| 48 | Iowa | $43,258 | $24,000 | 3,145,711 | 62 |
| 49 | Kansas | $39,555 | $22,000 | 2,913,123 | 57 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $36,172 | $20,000 | 4,684,333 | 37 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $31,712 | $18,000 | 2,984,100 | 26 |
Highest paying states for writer and editors
| Rank | State | Avg. Writer And Editor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $99,570 |
| 2 | New York | $78,509 |
| 3 | Virginia | $79,550 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $85,416 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $82,472 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $82,188 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $72,127 |
| 8 | Washington | $71,256 |
| 9 | Maryland | $68,569 |
| 10 | Illinois | $70,604 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $69,609 |
| 12 | Vermont | $67,005 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $66,116 |
| 14 | Delaware | $64,584 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $64,728 |
| 16 | Oregon | $58,510 |
| 17 | Michigan | $62,455 |
| 18 | California | $61,269 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $52,137 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $62,327 |
| 21 | Maine | $65,934 |
| 22 | Idaho | $57,867 |
| 23 | Nevada | $53,808 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $59,116 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $53,747 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $59,117 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $53,827 |
| 28 | Colorado | $51,819 |
| 29 | Ohio | $53,014 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $50,177 |
| 31 | Georgia | $50,490 |
| 32 | Arizona | $49,571 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $47,959 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $48,932 |
| 35 | Montana | $44,273 |
| 36 | Indiana | $48,183 |
| 37 | Utah | $41,159 |
| 38 | Alaska | $38,110 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $37,508 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $48,413 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $46,860 |
| 42 | Texas | $44,241 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $44,164 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $37,073 |
| 45 | Alabama | $45,051 |
| 46 | Florida | $40,316 |
| 47 | Missouri | $39,463 |
| 48 | Iowa | $43,258 |
| 49 | Kansas | $39,555 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $36,172 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $31,712 |
Expert opinions on the best states for writer and editors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for writer and editors to find work opportunities?
Tristan Abbott Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and Writing Center Director, Morgan State University
Are you referring to specific academic disciplines or geographic areas? Hiring appears to be at a standstill for everyone, everywhere.
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Updated January 8, 2025