Editors Salary
In Kentucky, editors earn $59,430 at the median, or about $28.57 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $150K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $65,865 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 28.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $59K get you in Kentucky?
About editors
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Pay for editors in Kentucky runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $78K. Rent runs $1,110/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level editors (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $150K or more, a $111K spread from bottom to top.
Editors salary by metro in Kentucky
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette | $61K | +2% | 80 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a editor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 28.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for editors in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new editors typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,342/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is editor a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $59K here vs. $78K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for editors?
Kentucky pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — below the national median.
How much do editors make in Kentucky?
The median is $59,430 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,040, and experienced editors can clear $149,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,951/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 28.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a editors salary go in Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median editors salary is worth about $65,865 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do editors get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.