Editors pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,780 a year or less, while the top 10% make $169,900 or more. The middle half of editors in Washington earn between $77,020 and $127,610.
- $57K10th
- $77K25th
- $85KMedian
- $128K75th
- $170K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $104,350 | $8,696 | $50.17 |
| Median | $84,800 | $7,067 | $40.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $77,020 | $6,418 | $37.03 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $127,610 | $10,634 | $61.35 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Editors pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Editors in Washington earn 5% less than the Washington, D.C. average ($109,290) and 16% more than the U.S. average ($90,060). At the median the gap is +9% against the U.S. median of $77,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $104,350 | $84,800 | $56,780 | $169,900 | 5,470 |
| Washington, D.C. | $109,290 | $83,920 | $64,440 | $170,460 | 3,310 |
| United States | $90,060 | $77,920 | $41,250 | $153,700 | 91,690 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Editors salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $104,350, a single filer in Washington takes home about $76,339 a year, or $6,362 a month and $2,936 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $78,350 | $6,529 |
| Working in MD | $77,493 | $6,458 |
| Working in VA | $77,054 | $6,421 |
| Working in DC | $76,339 | $6,362 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for editors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $104,350 buys what about $95,836 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Editors salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$68,340
- Baltimore, MD$86,170
- Charlottesville, VA$77,390
- Richmond, VA$76,670
- Harrisburg, PA$70,200
- Lancaster, PA$68,550
Highest-paying cities for editors
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($120,530).
- San Jose, CA$120,530
- Los Angeles, CA$119,300
- New York, NY$119,160
- San Francisco, CA$114,540
- Waterbury, CT$110,240
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Editors salary in Washington: questions
How much do editors make an hour in Washington?
$50.17 an hour on average, and $40.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level editors salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,780 a year and the 25th percentile is $77,020, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the editors take-home pay in Washington?
About $76,339 a year ($6,362 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $104,350.
Do editors earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% more than the U.S. average for this job ($90,060).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-3041; area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.96, this job is 3.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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