How Much Does a Book Editor Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$77,920
Book editors in the U.S. earn a median of $77,920 a year, or $37.46 an hour. Half of book editors earn more than $77,920 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $153,700.
Pay percentiles for book editors
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $19.83 | $41,250 |
| 25th | $27.55 | $57,300 |
| 50th (median) | $37.46 | $77,920 |
| 75th | $51.01 | $106,100 |
| 90th | $73.90 | $153,700 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Editors (SOC 27-3041). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for book editors
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $101,480 | $48.79 | +30% |
| California | $98,030 | $47.13 | +26% |
| Connecticut | $85,950 | $41.32 | +10% |
| District of Columbia | $83,920 | $40.35 | +8% |
| Massachusetts | $83,170 | $39.99 | +7% |
| New Jersey | $81,680 | $39.27 | +5% |
| Virginia | $80,590 | $38.74 | +3% |
| Rhode Island | $77,960 | $37.48 | 0% |
| Colorado | $77,870 | $37.44 | 0% |
| Washington | $77,850 | $37.43 | 0% |
| United States | $77,920 | $37.46 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many book editors are there?
BLS counts about 91,690 book editors employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Editors”. The most jobs are in New York (16,800), California (14,830) and Texas (6,460).
The mean (average) annual wage is $90,060, higher than the median of $77,920.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $6,493
- Biweekly
- $2,997
- Weekly
- $1,498
- Daily (8 hours)
- $300
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do book editors make an hour?
The median hourly wage for book editors is $37.46. The middle 50% earn between $27.55 and $51.01 an hour.
Which state pays book editors the most?
New York has the highest median wage for book editors at $101,480, +30% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for book editors?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of book editors earn less than $41,250 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.