Editors Salary
In Missouri, editors earn $61,620 at the median, or about $29.62 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $105K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $69,259 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,097/month, or 27.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $62K get you in Missouri?
About editors
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What this looks like in Missouri
Pay for editors in Missouri runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $78K. Rent runs $1,097/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Missouri
Entry-level editors (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $105K or more, a $69K spread from bottom to top.
Editors salary by metro in Missouri
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $70K | +14% | 360 |
| Kansas City | $65K | +6% | 380 |
| Jefferson City | $58K | -7% | 30 |
| Columbia | $54K | -12% | 50 |
| Springfield | $52K | -16% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track editors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a editor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
Yes — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 26.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for editors in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new editors typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,164/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Missouri?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $62K here vs. $78K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for editors?
Missouri pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — below the national median.
How much do editors make in Missouri?
The median is $61,620 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,060, and experienced editors can clear $104,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,117/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 26.6% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $69,259 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.