ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Senior Editor Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

The Huntington

Writer and Editor

San Marino, CA

The position also serves as backup to the Senior Editor as assigned. The successful candidate demonstrates an inclusive, collaborative approach and experience working with people from diverse racial ...

Owner

Senior Video Editor

San Francisco, CA · On-site

The Senior Video Editor is one of our early hires that will help own this function as we build a dedicated Media team. You'll own end-to-end editing for internal video projects across the company.

Aquent

Senior Social Video Editor

Culver City, CA · On-site

$46.27 - $51.41/hr

Your expertise will not only elevate our content quality but also empower a team of junior editors, making a direct and visible impact on our brand's digital presence and engagement. Key ...

Mocean

FREELANCE ASSISTANT EDITOR

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$20 - $23/hr

You'll work remotely on a contract basis, reporting to Senior Editors and the Creative Director. Day-to-day, you'll handle media management, organize project files, prep timelines for editors, cut ...

MOCEAN

FREELANCE ASSISTANT EDITOR

Los Angeles, CA · Remote

You'll work remotely on a contract basis, reporting to Senior Editors and the Creative Director. Day-to-day, you'll handle media management, organize project files, prep timelines for editors, cut ...

Vast

Senior Photo Editor (Fixed Term)

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$45 - $64/hr

Vast is seeking a Senior Photo Editor to join its Media Production team on a fixed-term basis, reporting to the Senior Manager, Media Production . The ideal candidate is a technically precise ...

Relativity Space

Senior Video Editor

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$74K - $112K/yr

You'll be editing the videos that tell the story of Terran R and shape external and internal perception of the company. As a member of the Communications & Brand team, you'll work with the Manager of ...

Relativity Space

Senior Video Editor

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$74K - $112K/yr

You'll be editing the videos that tell the story of Terran R and shape external and internal perception of the company. As a member of the Communications & Brand team, you'll work with the Manager of ...

Nscale

Senior Content Editor

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$90 - $140/hr

Mentor and train writers, editors, and creatives Champion AI-First Workflows * Introduce and ... Experienced partnering with senior stakeholders and executives to shape narratives and thought ...

previous pagenext page

Showing results 21-40

All JobsEditor JobsSenior Editor JobsSenior Editor Jobs in California

Senior Editor information

See California salary details

$36.5K

$82K

$118.9K

How much do senior editor jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior editor in California is $82,022.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $64,100.00 and $103,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior editor?

Senior Editors are experienced professionals responsible for overseeing the content creation and editing process within publishing, media, or communications organizations. They manage editorial teams, set editorial guidelines, and ensure that all published material meets high standards of quality and accuracy. Senior Editors also collaborate with writers, provide feedback, and may make final decisions on which content gets published. Their role often includes mentoring junior staff and maintaining the overall editorial vision. Strong leadership, editing skills, and a keen eye for detail are essential for this position.

What does a senior editor do?

The duties of a senior editor are to oversee writing or production for newspapers, magazines, newsletters, or other types of digital or print media, such as a website or blog. Responsibilities include working with staff writers, freelancers, and interns, assigning stories for them to write or research. A senior editor also oversees junior editors and copy editors, making decisions regarding content and offering suggestions. They typically report to an editor-in-chief or managing editor as well as the publisher. Qualifications to become a senior editor often include a bachelor’s or master’s degree as well as experience in the publishing industry.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior editor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Editor, you need advanced editorial judgment, strong writing and grammar skills, and typically a degree in journalism, communications, or a related field. Familiarity with content management systems (CMS), editing software like Adobe InDesign, and style guides such as AP or Chicago Manual of Style is common. Leadership, attention to detail, and the ability to give constructive feedback are crucial soft skills for this role. These competencies ensure high-quality content, efficient editorial workflows, and effective team collaboration in a fast-paced publishing environment.

How does a senior editor typically collaborate with writers and other editorial team members to maintain content quality?

A Senior Editor plays a key role in guiding writers and junior editors through the editorial process, providing constructive feedback to ensure content meets organizational standards. They often lead regular meetings to align on editorial direction, oversee the revision process, and coordinate with fact-checkers or subject matter experts. Collaboration tools and clear communication are essential, as Senior Editors must balance maintaining consistency with encouraging creativity and growth among team members. This collaborative approach not only upholds content quality but also fosters a supportive and productive work environment.

What is the difference between Senior Editor vs Content Strategist?

AspectSenior EditorContent Strategist
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or related field; editing experienceBachelor's degree in marketing, communications, or related; strategic planning experience
Work EnvironmentPublishing houses, media companies, online mediaMarketing agencies, corporate communications, media firms
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in publishing, media, online content creationUsed in marketing, branding, digital media
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for content quality and editing rolesCompared for content planning and strategy development

The main difference between a Senior Editor and a Content Strategist lies in their focus: Senior Editors primarily oversee content editing, quality, and publication, while Content Strategists develop plans to align content with marketing goals. Both roles require strong communication skills and industry experience, but they serve different functions within content creation and management.

More about Senior Editor jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Editor jobs in California?

The most popular types of Editor jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Senior Editor jobs in California?

For Senior Editor jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Editor jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Editor jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Senior Editor jobs?

Cities in California with the most Senior Editor job openings:

What are popular job titles related to Senior Editor jobs in CA?

For Senior Editor jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Senior Editor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Editor job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 78% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 74% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 21% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $82,022 per year, or $39.4 per hour.

Senior Editor, Research & Intelligence

Black & White Zebra

San Diego, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 7 days ago

Job description

About the Role:

We are looking for a Senior Editor, Research & Intelligence to help us understand what our audience actually cares about and turn that into content, products, and measurable audience growth.

This role sits at the center of our audience and editorial strategy. Your job is to gather real-world input from interviews, surveys, events, strategic partners, and market activity, and turn it into clear insights that shape what we publish, what we build, and how we grow our subscriber base.

This is not a traditional editing role. It is about identifying patterns, making sense of information, and helping the organization make better decisions based on real audience needs.

Your work will directly improve content quality, increase conversion, and drive audience growth.

Who You Are:

You are someone who naturally asks, "What is actually going on here?" and then goes and finds the answer.

You are comfortable working with both qualitative and quantitative inputs, including conversations, interviews, survey data, partner insights, and performance data, and turning them into something useful and clear.

You do not just collect information. You connect dots, spot patterns, and explain what it means and what to do next.

You are also a strong editor and communicator. You can take complex ideas and make them simple, structured, and actionable.

You do not stop at insight. You push through to what should happen next.

What You'll Be Doing:
1. Build a clear understanding of our audience: You will lead how we gather insight about senior decision-makers across our brands.
  • Run surveys and research to capture first-party data
  • Conduct and synthesize editorial interviews and expert conversations
  • Pull insights from events, community discussions, and market activity
  • Gather and synthesize insights from strategic partners and external collaborators
  • Identify patterns in what our audience cares about, struggles with, and prioritizes
Your goal is to build a consistent, reliable view of what matters most to our audience.
 
2. Turn inputs into clear, usable insights: You will take what we learn and turn it into direction.
  • Translate research and observations into clear insights tied to decisions
  • Bring together internal data and partner insights into a single point of view
  • Connect insights directly to recommended actions and expected outcomes
  • Translate insights into clear reports and briefings that leadership and teams can act on
  • Inform editorial direction, content strategy, and audience targeting
  • Ensure major initiatives are grounded in real audience understanding
Your work should answer: What does this mean, and what should we do differently because of it?
 
3. Lead insight-driven content and research: You will create the outputs that demonstrate our authority and drive audience growth.
  • Develop reports, surveys, and insight-driven content
  • Partner with strategic partners on co-created research and intelligence projects
  • Support experiences designed to convert readers into subscribers, including interactive tools and insight-driven email content
  • Package findings into formats that attract and convert subscribers
  • Ensure insight-driven content and research directly contribute to subscriber growth
  • Partner with revenue, sponsorship, and events teams to ensure this work supports commercial opportunities
These outputs should drive credibility, subscriber growth, and measurable performance.
 
4. Measure performance and make recommendations that drive audience growth: You will own how insight-driven work is evaluated and improved, with a clear focus on driving audience growth.
  • Define how we measure the performance of insight-driven content and experiences
  • Track and analyze performance to understand what is driving subscriber growth and what is not
  • Make clear, actionable recommendations tied directly to audience growth
  • Deliver clear, actionable reports to leadership and teams that inform decisions and next steps
  • Partner with editorial, audience, and product teams to apply those recommendations
  • Use insights from partners to inform what we prioritize, measure, and scale
Your work should lead to continuous improvement and measurable audience growth.
 
5. Build a repeatable system for insight: You will create a system, not one-off projects.
  • Establish a consistent pipeline from input to insight to output
  • Incorporate partner-driven insights into ongoing workflows
  • Create repeatable ways to gather, analyze, and apply insights
  • Ensure we are continuously learning and improving
  • Help the company stay ahead of audience needs and market shifts

The goal is to make insight part of how we operate every day.

How Your Success Will Be Measured:
  • Growth in subscribers from our target audience through insight-driven content
  • Improved conversion rates on research, reports, and insight-based experiences
  • Increased return engagement from audiences acquired through these efforts
  • Successful delivery of co-created research or insight projects with partners
  • Clear, actionable recommendations and reporting that lead to measurable audience growth
  • Evidence that insights are shaping editorial, product, and audience decisions
Your Skillset Includes:
  • Experience working with research, insights, or audience data in a way that influenced decisions
  • Strong interviewing and synthesis skills, with the ability to turn conversations and data into clear insights
  • Ability to connect qualitative inputs and performance data to recommendations and next steps
  • Experience creating content, reports, or products based on research or insights
  • Experience designing and running surveys or structured research projects
  • Experience turning research or insights into subscriber growth or audience-facing products
  • Experience working with external partners to gather insights or develop joint initiatives
  • Comfort working across editorial, audience, product, and partnerships
  • Strong judgment and clarity in how you communicate findings
Nice to Haves:
  • Experience synthesizing insights from executive-level interviews with senior decision-makers
  • Experience informing event programming or cross-channel initiatives based on research or insights
  • Experience collaborating with external partners on co-created research, surveys, or insight-driven content
  • Familiarity with using AI or emerging tools to analyze audience behavior or surface insights
Why This Role Matters:

This role ensures we are building for real people with real needs, not assumptions.By grounding our content, products, and strategy in actual audience and partner insight, this role helps us:

  • Create more relevant, higher-performing content
  • Build stronger trust with senior decision-makers
  • Drive audience growth through insight-led content and experiences
  • Convert more effectively and retain attention over time
  • Strengthen strategic partnerships through shared intelligence
  • Continuously improve how we perform and grow
$95,000 - $130,000 a year
Salary Statement:
This full-time position is available as a remote role that offers an annual base salary in the range of $95,000 to $130,000 USD. The range is a guide for the expected skills, knowledge, and experience for new hires based in USA only. Seniority level and salary ranges are determined through interviews and a review of education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities of the applicant, equity with other team members, and alignment with market data. This means ranges will vary for candidates based outside of USA and/or at different seniority levels. In addition to annual salary, full-time employees are eligible for a discretionary bonus and a comprehensive benefits package.

About Us:
We're a rapidly growing, independent media tech company headquartered in Vancouver, B.C. Canada. Since 2012, our portfolio of influential digital publications has been helping millions of people succeed at work.

Our brands cover thought leadership for executives in project management, people management, product management, tech, marketing and many others - with the goal of connecting people with knowledge, skills and tools they need to succeed professionally in the age of AI.

We got our start in 2011 as The Digital Project Manager blog, founded by our CEO Ben Aston. Since then, we've grown into an international team of 70+ creators, strategists, and innovators with a portfolio of more than 15 online publications. We enjoy an impact-driven environment that combines the agility of a startup with the creativity of an agency and the diversity of a global company.

We've previously ranked #30 in The Globe and Mail's Fastest Growing Companylist as well as Deloitte'sFast 50 program, received a CMI award for Best Digital Publication for The Digital Project Manager-and we're listed in both Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers, and Best Employers in BC!

All of this growth is driven by our commitment to our mission: In a world of evolving skills, practices, and technology, we're creating a playbook for the future of work and empowering communities to create it with us.

Want to learn more? Watch this video to learn why the team love working at BWZ!

Diversity Equity and Inclusion: 
Black and White Zebra is an equal opportunity employer and considers all candidates for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, marital status, military or veteran's status (including protected veterans, as may be required by federal law), sexual orientation or any other category protected by law. We celebrate all backgrounds and attributes that continue to help make our team impactful, iterative, adaptable, and fun!

Privacy Policy
By submitting your application, you acknowledge that your personal information will be processed in accordance with our Recruitment Privacy Notice.
apply for this job

Apply