Associate Copy Editor Salary in the United States

How much does an Associate Copy Editor make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Associate Copy Editor in the United States is $73,234 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $85,927
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $67,402 to $79,878
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $62,092
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View as table View as graph 25% $67,402 10% $62,092 90% $85,927 75% $79,878 $73,234 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Associate Copy Editor Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $79,878 $6,657 $1,536 $38
Average $73,234 $6,103 $1,408 $35
25th Percentile $67,402 $5,617 $1,296 $32
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Key Factors That Influence Associate Copy Editor Salaries

An Associate Copy Editor'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 Associate Copy Editor Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Associate Copy Editor'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $69,853
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $70,034
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $72,311
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $74,895
  • Expert (over 8 years): $75,080
Levels Salary
Entry Level Associate Copy Editor$69,853
Intermediate Level Associate Copy Editor$70,034
Senior Level Associate Copy Editor$72,311
Specialist Level Associate Copy Editor$74,895
Expert Level Associate Copy Editor$75,080
$69,853 0 yr
$70,034 < 2 yrs
$72,311 2-4 yrs
$74,895 5-8 yrs
$75,080 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Associate Copy Editor 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 Associate Copy Editors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $81,085.
  • California: $80,777.
  • Massachusetts: $79,701.

Top Paying Cities for Associate Copy Editors

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: $92,370
  • San Francisco: $91,462
  • Oakland: $89,433

What Skills Can Increase an Associate Copy Editor's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Presentation (Mentioned in 4.7% Job Postings): Presentation conveys information from a speaker to an audience. Presentations are typically demonstrations, introduction, lecture, or speech meant to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate, build goodwill, or present a new idea/product.
  • Digital Marketing (Mentioned in 2.27% Job Postings): Digital marketing is the marketing of products or services using digital technologies, mainly on the Internet, but also including mobile phones, display advertising, and any other digital medium. Digital marketing's development since the 1990s and 2000s has changed the way brands and businesses use technology for marketing. As digital platforms are increasingly incorporated into marketing plans and everyday life, and as people use digital devices instead of visiting physical shops, digital marketing campaigns are becoming more prevalent and efficient. Digital marketing methods such as search engine optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), content marketing, influencer marketing, content automation, campaign marketing, data-driven marketing, e-commerce marketing, social media marketing, social media optimization, e-mail direct marketing, Display advertising, e–books, and optical disks and games are becoming more common in our advancing technology. In fact, digital marketing now extends to non-Internet channels that provide digital media, such as mobile phones (SMS and MMS), callback, and on-hold mobile ring tones. In essence, this extension to non-Internet channels helps to differentiate digital marketing from online marketing, another catch-all term for the marketing methods mentioned above, which strictly occur online.
  • Product Marketing (Mentioned in 1.49% Job Postings): Product marketing is a process of promoting and selling a product to a customer. Also product marketing is defined as being the intermediary function between product development and increasing brand awareness. For example, product management deals with the basics of product development within a firm, whereas product marketing deals with marketing the product to prospects, customers, and others. Product marketing, as a job function within a firm, also differs from other marketing jobs such as social media marketing, marketing communications ("marcom"), online marketing, advertising, marketing strategy, and public relations, although product marketers may use channels such as online for outbound marketing for their product. A product market is something that is referred to when pitching a new product to the general public. Product market definition focuses on a narrow statement: the product type, customer needs (functional needs), customer type, and geographic area.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 4.7%
Digital Marketing 2.27%
Product Marketing 1.49%
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 Associate Copy Editor's salary.
  • Collaborating: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Product Marketing: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Collaborating
$76,896
5%
Product Marketing
$76,896
5%
Flexibility
$76,163
4%
Project Management
$76,163
4%
Innovation
$76,163
4%
Collaboration
$75,431
3%
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How Education impacts an Associate Copy Editor's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Associate Copy Editors enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree 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 Associate Copy Editor with a Bachelor's Degree is between $69,465 and $73,989).

Associate Copy Editor Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Associate Copy Editor
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.0%
High School 1.0%
Associates 1.0%
Bachelors 78.8%
Masters 17.8%
Doctorate 1.4%
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Associate Copy Editor Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Associate Copy Editor'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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Associate Copy Editor

Salaries for an Associate Copy Editor can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $67,990 in 2023 to around $65,606 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Associate Copy Editor salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Associate Copy Editor Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$67,990
2024
$65,924
2025
$65,606
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $67,990
2024 $65,924
2025 $65,606
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Associate Copy Editor

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Associate Copy Editor

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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.)

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