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Editor II Salary in the United States

How much does an Editor II make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Editor II in the United States is $78,360 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

However, an Editor II's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $89,775
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $71,192 to $84,335
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $64,666
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Editor II Salaries

An Editor II's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Editor II Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Editor II's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Editor I (0-2 years): $61,878
  • Editor II (2-4 years): $78,360
  • Editor III (4-7 years): $96,199
  • Editorial Manager (7+ years): $113,236
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Editor I0-2 years$61,878
Editor II2-4 years$78,360
Editor III4-7 years$96,199
Editorial Manager7+ years$113,236
View as Graph

How Do Editor IIs Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Editor IIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $86,760.
  • California: $86,431.
  • Massachusetts: $85,279.

Top Paying Cities for Editor II

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $98,835
  • San Francisco: $97,753
  • Oakland: $95,693

What Skills Can Increase an Editor II's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Project Management (Mentioned in 3.33% Job Postings): Project management is the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters. Project management has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale and budget.
  • Copyediting (Mentioned in 2.53% Job Postings): Copy editing (also copyediting, sometimes abbreviated ce) is the process of reviewing and correcting written material to improve accuracy, readability, and fitness for its purpose, and to ensure that it is free of error, omission, inconsistency, and repetition. In the context of publication in print, copy editing is done before typesetting and again before proofreading, the final step in the editorial cycle.:1–5 In the United States and Canada, an editor who does this work is called a copy editor. An organization's highest-ranking copy editor, or the supervising editor of a group of copy editors, may be known as the copy chief, copy desk chief, or news editor. In book publishing in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world that follow British nomenclature, the term copy editor is used, but in newspaper and magazine publishing, the term is subeditor (or sub-editor), commonly shortened to sub. The senior subeditor of a publication is frequently called the chief subeditor. As the prefix sub suggests, copy editors typically have less authority than regular editors.
  • Content Creation (Mentioned in 1.74% Job Postings): Content creation is the contribution of information to any media and most especially to digital media for an end-user/audience in specific contexts. Content is "something that is to be expressed through some medium, as speech, writing or any of various arts" for self-expression, distribution, marketing and/or publication. Typical forms of content creation include maintaining and updating web sites, blogging, photography, videography, online commentary, the maintenance of social media accounts, and editing and distribution of digital media. A Pew survey described content creation as the creation of "the material people contribute to the online world."
Skills Demand Percentage
Project Management 3.33%
Copyediting 2.53%
Content Creation 1.74%
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What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Editor II's salary.

  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Medical Writing: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Storytelling: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Project Management $88,547
13%
Medical Writing $87,763
12%
Storytelling $87,763
12%
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Editor II Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Editor II salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $87,719. While startup companies pay approximate $74,209.

Editor II Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $74,209
Growth Stage 51~500 $78,484
Established 501~5000 $84,709
Enterprise 5000+ $87,719

Editor II Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Editor II roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average. In contrast, Editor positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Editor II as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Editor II

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$86,196$41.010%

How Education impacts an Editor II's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Editor II enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Editor II with a Bachelor's Degree is between $73,724 and $78,993.

Editor II Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Editor II
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 2.3%
Associates 2.2%
Bachelors 62.5%
Masters 27.2%
Doctorate 5.7%
View as Graph

Editor II Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Editor II's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$71,192
Average $78,360/year
$84,335
$5,933
Average $6,530/month
$7,028
$1,369
Average $1,507/week
$1,622
$34
Average $38/hour
$41
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $84,335 $7,028 $1,622 $41
Average $78,360 $6,530 $1,507 $38
25th Percentile $71,192 $5,933 $1,369 $34

Editor II Salary Growth & Career Path

Editor II

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As an Editor II, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Editor III $96,199 23%
Photo Editor, Senior $86,392 10%

Most common benefits for Editor II

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Editor II

Here are companies hiring for Editor II and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Editor II

1. Where can an Editor II earn the most?

An Editor II's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, an Editor II earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Editor II is $98,835.

2. What is the highest pay for Editor II?

The highest pay for Editor II is $89,775.

3. What is the lowest pay for Editor II?

The lowest pay for Editor II is $64,666.

4. What are the responsibilities of Editor II?

Reviews, edits, and re-writes a variety of documents and/or digital content. Responsible for creating and maintaining accurate and compelling content for written copy and/or websites and other online communications media. Ensures that all content meets required and accepted format and standards. Evaluates content for clarity, accuracy, and consistency. May coordinate with creative team to produce final drafts. Requires a bachelor's degree in journalism or equivalent. Typically reports to a manager. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Typically requires 2-4 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Editor II?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Editor II roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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