Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Editor salary in California
$98,030
Median annual
$47.13
Median hourly
$111,810
Mean annual
14,830
Employed
The median annual wage for editors in California was $98,030 in May 2025, with an average of $111,810. About 14,830 people work in this occupation there.
That is 26% above the national median of $77,920. Compared with all occupations in California (median $58,240), editors earn 68% more. With a location quotient of 1.38, the occupation is more concentrated here than in the US as a whole.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $52,510, while the top 10% earned more than $173,590. Many editors are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $52,510 | $25.25 |
| 25th | $71,090 | $34.18 |
| Median | $98,030 | $47.13 |
| 75th | $136,820 | $65.78 |
| 90th | $173,590 | $83.46 |
Metro areas in California
| Metro area | Median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $117,580 | 560 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $102,940 | 2,040 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $100,050 | 8,830 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $81,330 | 110 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $80,570 | 120 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $78,870 | 710 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $78,800 | 370 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $77,890 | 30 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $73,770 | 40 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $73,300 | 70 |
| Fresno, CA | $72,300 | 100 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $71,300 | — |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $70,560 | 320 |
| Chico, CA | $67,390 | 30 |
| Salinas, CA | $63,680 | 50 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $62,490 | 60 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.