Newspaper and periodical editors salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£41,583
Typical Annual pay range
Employment patterns
- 80% of Newspaper work full-time
- 29% are self-employed
- 96.3% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Newspaper and periodical editors pay in the UK
The typical newspaper and periodical editors in the UK earns a median salary of £41,583 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The middle half of newspaper and periodical editors earnings fall between £33,971 and £54,276 a year. That spread reflects the usual gap between newer entrants and more experienced newspaper and periodical editors.
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £47,923. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners is pulling the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical newspaper and periodical editors actually takes home.
Employment patterns shape these numbers too: Around 29% of Newspaper are self-employed, well above most occupations, so the employee pay above will not capture earnings for those working for themselves.
Where you work changes the picture: newspaper and periodical editors pay ranges from £24,376 in East Midlands up to £51,847 in London, a difference of £27,471 (113%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see newspaper and periodical editors pay in London or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
London is the highest-paying region for newspaper and periodical editors at £51,847 — 25% above the UK median. East Midlands is lowest at £24,376.
UK median £41,583
| Region | Median payUK median £41,583 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £51,847 | £51,847 | £56,799 | +25% |
| West Midlands | £43,100 | £43,100 | £44,617 | +4% |
| South East | £37,025 | £37,025 | £37,395 | -11% |
| South West | £36,979 | £36,979 | £40,385 | -11% |
| East of England | £36,095 | £36,095 | £34,710 | -13% |
| Scotland | £35,842 | £35,842 | £37,715 | -14% |
| North West | £35,637 | £35,637 | £37,936 | -14% |
| Wales | £29,560 | £29,560 | £35,137 | -29% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £29,265 | £29,265 | £29,427 | -30% |
| North East | £28,257 | £28,257 | £28,490 | -32% |
| East Midlands | £24,376 | £24,376 | £27,573 | -41% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| London £51,847 | £51,847Mean £56,799 | +25% |
| West Midlands £43,100 | £43,100Mean £44,617 | +4% |
| South East £37,025 | £37,025Mean £37,395 | -11% |
| South West £36,979 | £36,979Mean £40,385 | -11% |
| East of England £36,095 | £36,095Mean £34,710 | -13% |
| Scotland £35,842 | £35,842Mean £37,715 | -14% |
| North West £35,637 | £35,637Mean £37,936 | -14% |
| Wales £29,560 | £29,560Mean £35,137 | -29% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £29,265 | £29,265Mean £29,427 | -30% |
| North East £28,257 | £28,257Mean £28,490 | -32% |
| East Midlands £24,376 | £24,376Mean £27,573 | -41% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£41,583); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local newspaper and periodical editors pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow newspaper and periodical editors pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for newspaper and periodical editors by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
Related roles in Media Professionals
Other published roles in this occupation group. View category overview →