SOC 2491 Business, media and public service professionals

Newspaper and periodical editors Salary

Median salary £41,583 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £42,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For newspaper and periodical editors, £42,451 is the typical (median) pay. That is above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +9.0% versus the national average. Experienced newspaper and periodical editors (top 25%) earn over £54,276.

About this role

Newspaper and periodical editors research, write and produce content for publication or broadcast. They investigate stories, conduct interviews, verify facts and present information in formats appropriate to their medium — whether print, online, broadcast or multimedia.

Key responsibilities

Researching, investigating and verifying stories
Writing, editing or producing content for publication
Conducting interviews and building source networks
Meeting editorial deadlines and standards
Adapting content for different platforms and audiences

Qualifications and entry routes

A degree in journalism, English or a related field is common. NCTJ (National Council for the Training of Journalists) qualifications are the industry standard. Portfolio and work experience are essential.

Career outlook

Traditional media roles are declining, but digital, specialist and freelance journalism offer opportunities. Content creation skills are transferable to marketing and communications.

Key skills

News writing Research and investigation Interviewing Media law knowledge Digital content production

Common industries

National and regional media
Broadcast media
Digital media
Publishing
PR and communications

Data coverage

SOC code 2491

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2021–2025

Estimated jobs 26,000

Median Salary

£41,583

Mean Salary

£47,923

Jobs (000s)

26k

Data Years

5 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £33,971Median: £41,583P75: £54,276

P10: £27kP25: £34kMedian: £42kP75: £54kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£27,000

0-2 years

Mid Level

£33,971

3-7 years

Senior

£54,276

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +101% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2021-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +16.1%Real growth: -6.1%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 8.6%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£41,583

Full-time Only

£42,451

Full-time premium: +£868

Newspaper and periodical editors salary: common questions

How much do newspaper and periodical editors earn in the UK?

Newspaper and periodical editors earn a median of £42,451 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £33,971 and £54,276.

Is £42,451 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for newspaper and periodical editors?

Entry-level newspaper and periodical editors typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £33,971, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £27,000.

Have newspaper and periodical editors salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2021, median newspaper and periodical editors pay has risen from £38,086 to £42,451 — +11% in cash terms, or -10% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for newspaper and periodical editors?

Male newspaper and periodical editors earn a median £43,315 and female newspaper and periodical editors £39,569 — a gap of +9.0% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).