Newspaper, periodical and broadcast editors: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time newspaper, periodical and broadcast editors in the UK earned a median £42,451 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): £3,412 above the all-jobs median of £39,039.
What the figures show
That ranks 114th of 382 occupations on this measure.
The mean, £49,583, is 17% above the median, a sign of a few very high earners.
Median full-time pay: women £40,227 a year, men £43,526 a year.
ASHE counts roughly 28,000 employee jobs, 86% full-time.
Since 2021 it has risen 11.5%, from £38,086, slower than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 43,100 people in this line of work, 48% of them in London.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £27,986* | £582.60 | £15.27 | £27,000 | £521.90 | £16.02 |
| 20th percentile | £33,555 | £648.20 | £17.76 | £31,281 | £631.10 | £17.93 |
| 25th percentile | £35,694 | £690.70 | £19.32 | £33,971 | £646.20 | £19.40 |
| 30th percentile | £37,101 | £740.00 | £19.96 | £35,698 | £695.00 | £20.07 |
| 40th percentile | £39,505 | £770.10 | £22.23 | £38,094 | £752.50 | £22.37 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £42,451 | £858.10 | £23.25 | £41,583 | £832.80 | £23.48 |
| 60th percentile | £47,508* | £896.10 | £25.01 | £44,521 | £878.50 | £25.62 |
| 70th percentile | £53,703* | £1,046.30 | £28.07 | £51,811* | £993.30 | £28.09 |
| 75th percentile | – | £1,096.20* | £29.44* | £54,276* | £1,063.10* | £30.07 |
| Mean | £49,583 | £972.00 | £26.48 | £47,923 | £933.00 | £26.48 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £38,086* | £781.80 | £20.57 | £35,821* | £772.80 | 16* |
| 2022 revised | £35,517 | £697.30 | £19.26 | £34,305* | £629.70 | 24* |
| 2023 revised | £42,494 | £794.20 | £21.27 | £40,582 | £776.50 | 26* |
| 2024 revised | £39,554 | £780.20 | £21.10 | £38,005 | £732.50 | 27* |
| 2025 provisional | £42,451 | £858.10 | £23.25 | £41,583 | £832.80 | 28 |
Newspaper, periodical and broadcast editors by region
UK: 43,100 (± 8,100), April 2025 to March 2026. 11 of the 12 regions and nations have samples too small to publish.
| Region or nation | People in employment | 95% confidence interval |
|---|---|---|
| London | 20,800* | ± 7,400 |
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What newspaper, periodical and broadcast editors do
Newspaper, periodical and broadcast editors evaluate, manage and oversee the editorial direction for the style and content of features and stories for broadcasting and for newspapers, magazines, news websites and periodicals. (ONS SOC 2020, 2491)
Also covers: editor, content editor (newspapers, magazines), digital editor, online editor, art editor, commissioning editor, content editor, copy editor, development editor, editorial director, editorial executive, editorial manager, listings editor, magazine editor, managing editor, news editor, newspaper editor and photo editor (24 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Commissions articles and selects material for broadcast or publication
- Checks style, grammar, accuracy and legality of content and arranges for any necessary revisions
- Decides on lay out of material in news websites, newspapers, magazines, or periodicals
- Liaises with production staff in checking final proof copies immediately prior to printing
Entrants usually possess a degree or equivalent qualification and significant relevant experience. A variety of postgraduate diplomas are available. Vocational qualifications covering various aspects of journalism are available at levels 3 and 4.
Related
Media professionals (median £43,315) · Newspaper and periodical broadcast journalists and reporters · Public relations professionals · salary percentile · UK real pay growth · Mean
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026