What Does an Editor Do?
Editors typically work for newspapers, magazines or publishing houses to ensure they produce quality, error-free content for their readers. They work closely with Writers, fact-checkers, publishers and other editors to prepare a piece written content for publication. Their job is to read through a manuscript or article multiple times to correct punctuation and grammar mistakes. They also make notes in the margins about confusing passages and advice for Writers during the revision period. They may also need to know how to use specific editing software programs to markup electronic manuscripts or documents.
Editor Skills and Qualifications
Editors have a mix of technical and creative skills—that is, they need an understanding of both the technical side of writing and the ability to edit while preserving the author’s unique voice (or ensuring that every piece of content is consistent with your business’s style). The skills and qualifications to look for in an Editor include:
- Mastery of whatever style guide your company uses
- Mastery of grammar, punctuation and spelling
- Experience working with other team members to produce content
- Experience that’s relevant to the work you need created in terms of word count, tone and content (e.g., technical writing versus advertising copy)
Editor Salary Expectations
The average salary for Editors is $17.48 per hour. Editors who are just starting out or who will only be doing line edits—that is, individuals who are not part of the project management side of editing—will often earn less. More experienced editors can make more.
Editor Salary Expectations
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Common salary:
71015.67 YEARLY -
Typical salaries range from
16000.00 -164000.00 YEARLY - Find more information on Indeed Salaries
*Indeed data –
Editor Education and Training Requirements
As you start getting applications for your new job, you’ll notice that Editors come from lots of different backgrounds. Most have a bachelor’s degree in an area like English, but some companies hire Editors with a degree in a field like science or social studies. Some candidates will have master’s degrees. Applicants may also supplement their degrees with certificates from community colleges or universities.
Editor Experience Requirements
Many applicants find work as Editors right out of college. Others have years of experience and move on into mid- or senior-level roles. For entry-level roles, you’ll see one or two years of experience and/or experience gained through completing a bachelor’s degree. Other Editors will have five years of experience or more and are ready to move into roles focused more on project and team management.
Job Description Samples for Similar Positions
Editors are one of many positions that play a hand in developing content. You might be looking for a different set of skills than what’s listed here, or you might want to include other responsibilities for your job posting. If you’re not finding what you want with our editor sample, check out some templates for similar positions:
*Indeed provides this information as a courtesy to users of this site. Please note that we are not your recruiting or legal advisor, we are not responsible for the content of your job descriptions, and none of the information provided herein guarantees performance.
