Salary of Magazine Editors & Writers
Magazine editors plan, organize and edit written material for publication. Magazine writers prepare original written materials, including stories, ads and other materials, depending on the industry. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there is fierce competition for both writing and editing positions, and the projected rate of growth for both occupations is 8 percent between 2008 and 2018, about the average for all positions.
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Average Salary
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According to the BLS, the average annual salary of a U.S. magazine editor is $59,340. The lowest paid 10 percent receive an average salary of $28,880, and the highest paid 10 percent earn around $96,800. Salary info is as of May 2010.
An average salary for magazine writers in the U.S., as reported by BLS May 2010 data, is $65,960. The lowest paid 10 percent make $28,610, and the highest paid 10 percent make around $109,440.
State Salaries
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Top paying states for magazine editor positions, as reported by BLS May 2010 data, include New York, with an average annual salary of $74,690, Florida at $67,970, Washington at $66,930 and Rhode Island at $66,140.
States that pay top dollar for magazine writers include New York, with an average annual wage of $88,630, California at $85,170, Washington at $68,760 and Maryland at $68,540. Salary data reflect BLS May 2010 data.
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Metropolitan Area Salaries
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According to BLS May 2010 figures, the metropolitan areas that tend to pay magazine editors the highest salaries are the West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach, Florida, region, at $100,340; the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, California, metro area at $81,270; the Naples-Marco Island, Florida, area at $80,430; and the New York-White Plains-Wayne, New York-New Jersey, metro area at $78,900.
Metro areas in the U.S. that pay magazine writers top dollar include the New York-White Plains-Wayne, New York-New Jersey, metro area at $91,470; the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, California, area at $100,060; the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, District of Columbia-Virginia-Maryland-West Virginia, region at $75,250; and the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Illinois, metro area at $62,580. Salary data reflects BLS May 2010 figures.
Industry Salaries
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The industries that employ the highest number of editors, as reported by the BLS in May 2010, are newspaper, periodical, book and directory publishers, which pay an average salary of $58,270; business, professional, labor and political organizations at $63,640; universities and professional schools at $53,370; and radio and television broadcasting at $57,640. Places that pay top dollar for editors include computer and peripherals manufacturing at $92,950, software publishers at $82,300 and electric power companies at $76,320.
Industries that employ the most writers in the U.S. include newspaper, periodical, book and directory publishers, which pay an average salary of $56,210; advertising and public relations at $73,710; and radio and television broadcasting at $66,110. Those that pay writers the best money, according to May 2010 BLS reports, include "lessors of non-financial intangible assets" at $113,830, independent artists and writers at $101,110, and accounting, tax and payroll services at $84,320.
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References
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