Editor salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Editors in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median of $102,940 a year ($49.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,040 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $173,990 for the top 10%. That is 32% higher than the national median of $77,920. Pay here is 5% higher than the California statewide median of $98,030. There are 0.86 editors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $114,540, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for editors in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,480 | $29.56 |
| 25th percentile | $78,700 | $37.84 |
| Median | $102,940 | $49.49 |
| 75th percentile | $132,770 | $63.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $173,990 | $83.65 |
| Average (mean) | $114,540 | $55.07 |
Half of editors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,578.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,289.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,959.23 |
| Weekly | $1,979.62 |
| Hourly | $49.49 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $102,940 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Editor salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $117,580 | 560 |
| 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 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $70,560 | 320 |
| Chico, CA | $67,390 | 30 |
| Salinas, CA | $63,680 | 50 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $62,490 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for editors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $101,480 |
| California | $98,030 |
| Connecticut | $85,950 |
| District of Columbia | $83,920 |
| Massachusetts | $83,170 |
| New Jersey | $81,680 |
| Virginia | $80,590 |
| Rhode Island | $77,960 |
| Colorado | $77,870 |
| Washington | $77,850 |
See Editor pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $102,520 | $49.29 |
| Media and Communication Workers, All Other | $89,050 | $42.81 |
| Technical Writer | $135,470 | $65.13 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $83,680 | $40.23 |
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $88,030 | $42.32 |
| Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners | $129,270 | $62.15 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $54,770 | — |
| Producers and Directors | $130,640 | $62.81 |
| Graphic Designer | $92,050 | $44.25 |
| Art Director | $165,210 | $79.43 |
| Interior Designer | $87,460 | $42.05 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $136,770 | $65.76 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $75,540 | $36.32 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $55,960 | $26.91 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-3041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a editor make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median salary for editors in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $102,940 a year, or $49.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $173,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid editors make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The top 10% of editors in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn at least $173,990 a year. The top 25% earn $132,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for editors in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,480 a year, and a quarter of editors earn $78,700 or less.
How many editors work in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
About 2,040 editors are employed in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.