Editor salary in District of Columbia
The median annual wage for editors in District of Columbia was $83,920 in May 2025, with an average of $109,290. About 3,310 people work in this occupation there.
That is 8% above the national median of $77,920. Compared with all occupations in District of Columbia (median $91,540), editors earn 8% less. With a location quotient of 7.99, the occupation is more concentrated here than in the US as a whole.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $64,440, while the top 10% earned more than $170,460. Many editors are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $64,440 | $30.98 |
| 25th | $77,400 | $37.21 |
| Median | $83,920 | $40.35 |
| 75th | $130,360 | $62.67 |
| 90th | $170,460 | $81.95 |
Metro areas in District of Columbia
| Metro area | Median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $84,800 | 5,470 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.