Editors pay range in Helena
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $123,820 or more. The middle half of editors in Helena earn between $47,620 and $83,490.
- $30K10th
- $48K25th
- $67KMedian
- $83K75th
- $124K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $73,270 | $6,106 | $35.23 |
| Median | $66,770 | $5,564 | $32.10 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,620 | $3,968 | $22.89 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $83,490 | $6,958 | $40.14 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Editors pay in Helena vs. Montana and the U.S.
Editors in Helena earn 8% more than the Montana average ($67,960) and 19% less than the U.S. average ($90,060). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $77,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena | $73,270 | $66,770 | $29,640 | $123,820 | 30 |
| Montana | $67,960 | $61,750 | $32,190 | $122,940 | 200 |
| United States | $90,060 | $77,920 | $41,250 | $153,700 | 91,690 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Editors salary after taxes in Helena
On the average salary of $73,270, a single filer in Helena takes home about $57,597 a year, or $4,800 a month and $2,215 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Helena a good place for editors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Helena area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $73,270 buys what about $76,582 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Helena ($55,040). A typical home costs $477,996, or 6.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Editors salary in other Montana cities
Helena ranks 1st of 3 Montana metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
Highest-paying cities for editors
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($120,530).
- San Jose, CA$120,530
- Los Angeles, CA$119,300
- New York, NY$119,160
- San Francisco, CA$114,540
- Waterbury, CT$110,240
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Editors salary in Helena: questions
How much do editors make an hour in Helena?
$35.23 an hour on average, and $32.10 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level editors salary in Helena?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,620, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the editors take-home pay in Helena?
About $57,597 a year ($4,800 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $73,270.
Do editors earn more in Helena than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% less than the U.S. average for this job ($90,060).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-3041; area Helena, MT (25740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.27, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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