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Editorial Lead Salary in the United States

How much does an Editorial Lead make in the United States? As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Editorial Lead in the United States is $122,458 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $59.

However, an Editorial Lead's salary can vary significantly. Here's a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $153,035
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $109,593 to $138,463
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $97,880
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Check out Editorial Lead Job Openings in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Editorial Lead Salaries

An Editorial Lead'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 Editorial Lead Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Editorial Lead'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): $95,252
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $109,232
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $102,693
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $119,124
  • Expert (over 8 years): $136,590
Job RoleYears of ExperienceAverage Salary
Communications Editor III less than 1 year $95,252
Communications Editor IV 1-2 years $109,232
Communications Editor Supervisor 2-4 years $102,693
Editorial Lead 5-8 years $119,124
Communications Editor Manager, Sr. over 8 years $136,590

How Do Editorial Lead 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 Editorial Leads. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $135,585.
  • California: $135,071.
  • Massachusetts: $133,271.

Top Paying Cities for Editorial Lead

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: $154,456
  • San Francisco: $152,765
  • Oakland: $149,546

Editorial Lead Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Editorial Lead roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Editorial Lead positions in Financial Services or Biotechnology typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Editorial Lead as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Editorial Lead

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense $153,073 $74.0 25%
Energy & Utilities $146,950 $71.0 20%
Construction $140,827 $68.0 15%
Business Services $134,704 $65.0 10%
Healthcare $128,581 $62.0 5%

How Education impacts an Editorial Lead's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Editorial Lead professionals 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 Editorial Lead with a Bachelor's is between $111,365 and $122,394.

Editorial Lead Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Editorial Lead
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Degree 0.8%
High School 3.1%
Associate's Degree 1.6%
Bachelor's Degree 57%
Master's Degree or MBA 33.6%
JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent 3.9%
View as Graph

Editorial Lead Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Editorial Lead'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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$109,593
Average $122,458/year
$138,463
$9,133
Average $10,205/month
$11,539
$2,108
Average $2,355/week
$2,663
$53
Average $59/hour
$67
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $138,463 $11,539 $2,663 $67
Average $122,458 $10,205 $2,355 $59
25th Percentile $109,593 $9,133 $2,108 $53

Most common benefits for Editorial Lead

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

Common company salaries for Editorial Lead

Here are companies hiring for Editorial Lead and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Editorial Lead Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Editorial Lead job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President Internal Communications

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

    21 Days Ago

  • C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Local CDL

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

    26 Days Ago

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President Credit Risk Strategy&Data Science

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    26 Days Ago

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President Payments Engineering

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    28 Days Ago

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi... more

    28 Days Ago

  • USPS | Columbus, OH

    USPS Postal Workers

    USPS | Columbus, OH

    The United States Postal Service (USPS) is seeking Mail Carriers and City Carrier Assistants (CCA) to deliver mail and packages to residential and business... more

    2 Months Ago

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FAQ about Editorial Lead

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Editorial Lead?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Editorial Lead roles, with salaries approximately 25% 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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