Copy Editor Salary in Australia

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Last Updated: July 10, 2026

AUD 96,154 USD

per year
Hourly Rate AUD 46.23
Bonus AUD 2,375

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Entry Level AUD 68K
Average AUD 96K
Senior Level AUD 116K

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The average pay for a Copy Editor is AUD 96,154, which is AUD 46.23 an hour in Australia. The average salary range for a Copy Editor is between AUD 68,270 and AUD 116,251. On average, a Bachelor's is the highest level of education for a Copy Editor.

This compensation analysis comes from aggregated salary survey data for Australia. ERI's compensation information is based on employer-reported data collected from ERI's salary surveys, customer HRIS data, data from Proxies/10Ks and Forms 990, proprietary databases, and purchased survey data. Cost-of-labor data in the Assessor Series are based on actual housing sales data from commercially available sources, plus rental rates, gasoline prices, consumables, medical care premium costs, property taxes, effective income tax rates, etc. For more information, see ERI's methodology.

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Salary Potential for Copy Editor

Explore the estimated salary growth for Copy Editor in Australia for up to 5 years. The estimated salary of Copy Editor in 1 year will be AUD 98,738, and in 5 years, will be AUD 109,785.

Number of Years

2 Years

Estimated Salary

AUD 101,391 USD

Percentage Growth

0%

Growth Trajectory

The estimated salary growth for Copy Editor in [# of years] is [salary], which is [average growth %] average growth. This information is based on ERI's compensation database.

What Does a Copy Editor Do?

Edits, checks, and prepares written material for publication, performing a variety of duties. Reads copy to detect errors in spelling, punctuation, and syntax. Verifies facts, dates, and statistics using standard reference sources. Rewrites or modifies copy to conform to publication's style and editorial policy, and marks copy for typesetter using standard symbols to indicate how type should be set.

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Education, Skills, and Certifications for Copy Editors

Gain access to salary differentials for education and skills in ERI's Salary Assessor

Education

Below is the average education level for a Copy Editor. About 65% have a Bachelor's degree, 26% have a Master's degree, and 4% have a High School Diploma.

  • Bachelor's Degree 65%
  • Master's Degree 26%
  • High School Diploma 4%
  • Associate Degree 3%
  • Doctorate Degree 2%
  • Less Than HS 0%

Top Skills

Below are top skills for a Copy Editor. 100% of Copy Editors have a skill in Reads copy. The top 3 most popular skills for Copy Editors are Reads copy, Verifies facts, and Edits content.

  • Reads copy 100%
  • Verifies facts 78%
  • Edits content 3%
  • Writes headlines 3%

Popular Certifications for Copy Editor

Secret Clearance - U.S. Government Confidential Clearance

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Compare Copy Editor Salaries by Location

See how Copy Editor salaries vary by region and find the best location for your career.

Average Salaries for Copy Editor

The average salary of copy editor in Australia is $96,154. The average salary of copy editor in California is $93,059. The average salary of copy editor in United States is $82,174. Explore the average salaries for copy editor in other locations below.

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What should I pay?

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Cost of Living in Australia

The cost of living in Australia is 0% equal to than the national average.

Whether you're planning to move or just want to see the cost of living in different locations, our cost-of-living calculator is the place to start. Compare salaries for other locations by city, U.S. ZIP code, state, or country.

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Why Your Salary May Look Different

This information is based on a specific job title and location, but real-world compensation can vary based on factors like years of experience, company size, shift differentials, and more. Because of these variables, your actual pay may fall above or below the average ranges shown. Use ERI's salary data and compensation management platform to identify market trends and accurately adjust pay so that you can price jobs competitively.

Based on the average salary in the United States, if your shift differential is 10%, then your pay will increase by AUD 4.62/hour

*Some jobs may not be adjusted using shift differentials. Please contact [email protected] for additional information.

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Use ERI's shift differential data to calculate pay for night, day, and swing shifts to benchmark compensation with confidence. Our robust salary survey data can help you accurately price roles using industry-specific shift policies.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Copy Editor salaries and career insights

How much does a Copy Editor make in Australia?

ERI's data indicated that, on average, a Copy Editor is AUD 96,154 per year or AUD 46.23 per hour in Australia, which is equal to the national average. Top earners have reported making up to AUD 116,251. However, the typical pay range in Australia, is between AUD 68,270 and AUD 116,251 annually.

What is the salary potential for Copy Editor in 5 years?

Copy Editor is projected to see 14.2% salary growth in 5 years.

What are some factors that impact Copy Editor salaries?

Several factors can impact the salary, including experience, company size, job market, location, industry, and more. Understanding how these factors affect the role can provide opportunities to earn more. Use our salary calculator to find out how much you should be paid based on what someone in your area, with similar experience, earns.

How can I accurately price jobs for my organization?

There are several factors that can impact the salary, including experience, company size, job market, location, industry, education, certificates, shift differentials, and more. Understanding how these factors affect the role can help you spot pay gaps and retain top talent. ERI's Assessor Platform brings these factors together in one platform, making it easy to benchmark roles, analyze insights, and set pay with confidence.

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ERI Economic Research Institute was founded over 35 years ago to provide trusted compensation data for private and public organizations. ERI has established itself as a gold standard for global salary benchmarking and geographic differentials and has evolved to offer a complete compensation management software solution.

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With decades of experience in compensation, ERI offers an extensive and reliable salary survey database powered by the Assessor Platform, a comprehensive compensation management solution that optimizes complex processes for accuracy and efficiency.

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ERI's team of PhD-level data scientists and seasoned compensation professionals review and validate our salary data approximately every six weeks, ensuring the accuracy of the data that we publish. Learn more about our methodology.

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About Our Data

This page is an excerpt of the much more complete compensation information available in ERI's Assessor Series.

For over 35 years, ERI has compiled the most robust and accurate salary, cost-of-living, and executive compensation survey database available. Data are analyzed using AI and traditional statistics, depending on which approach is best for a particular application. ERI collects salary survey data from five different sources, which you can learn about here.

Verified Sources

Data sourced from internal salary surveys, purchased surveys, public sources, HRIS data, and proprietary databases.

Real-Time Data

Our salary database is updated and verified approximately every six weeks.

Quality Assurance

Along with our data scientists, we have included AI in our rigorous process to analyze and provide the highest quality data.

10,500+

Locations

35,900+

Job Titles

4,400+

Skills

5,500+

Certifications

1,100+

Industries

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