Editing Jobs in the United States

Editor Jobs Overview

Responsibilities in editor jobs cover planning, reviewing, coordinating, and revising content for publication in newspapers, books, periodicals, or for websites. Ensuring that every piece of content respects the given guidelines, is void of mistakes, and enriches the reader’s experience are three fundamentals of this job. With incredible attention to detail, editors work behind the scenes to refine writers’ work.

Your duties on an editing job will vary but the most common include:

• Managing a team of writers, helping them craft and refine ideas, cultivate sources, report, and write articles.
• Brainstorming and identifying new stories, series, concepts, themes, and formats as needed.
• Directing creation of new content and determining when and how to refresh prior work where relevant.
• Negotiating, requesting, and finalizing contract for writers project editors, fact-checkers, researchers, and proofreaders.

Here are some popular jobs as editor:

• Assistant editor: provides support to the editorial team, assisting with various tasks such as research, fact-checking, and organizing content.
• Copy editor: focuses on the technical aspects of the written content, ensuring accuracy in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style, while also maintaining consistency and clarity.
• Executive editor: holds a senior position within an editorial team, overseeing the entire editorial process, making strategic decisions, and managing the team.
• Managing editor: responsible for coordinating and supervising the day-to-day operations of an editorial department, including assigning tasks, setting deadlines, and ensuring a smooth workflow.

Salaries for Editor Jobs

The average pay for editors ranges from $17.60 to $33.40 per hour. Locations with high demand, where you can expect to earn a little more, include San Francisco ($30.71) and Chicago ($25.3). Use our Salary Comparison Tool to find the average pay in your location. You can also compare the salaries of related jobs and find out the potential steps to take to advance your career path.

How to Find the Best Editor Jobs For You

With so many different editing jobs to choose from, avoid being overwhelmed by asking yourself relevant questions and considering your career goals and personal needs. For example:

• What is your preferred editing niche or specialization? Do you prefer editing specific types of content, such as academic papers, fiction, technical documents, or marketing materials?
• What type of organization or industry do you want to work in? Do you prefer working in publishing companies, media organizations, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, or somewhere else?
• What is your preferred work environment? Do you prefer a remote or on-site working setting, freelancing opportunities, or full-time employment with a specific company?
• What are your long-term career goals? Which editor jobs align with your career aspirations and offer you opportunities for growth and advancement?

Pay Attention to the Job Description

To fully understand the specific requirements, and qualifications sought by employers you must read the job descriptions from top to bottom. Ensure that your skills and experience line up with the job requirements and tailor your application materials accordingly.

Job descriptions are also useful when preparing for job interviews. They can help you to predict the type of questions recruiters might ask you and plan your answers.

Research Potential Employers

Working for companies or organizations that align with your interests and values is really important. Visit their websites, review their publications, and learn about their editorial teams to understand if they offer the type of editing work you seek. Consider factors such as work-life balance, diversity and inclusion initiatives, commitment to quality content, reputation, structure, and ethical standards.

Think About Your Long-Term Goals

Identifying your strengths, preferences, and long-term goals can help you find editor jobs with the right growth opportunities for you. Reflect on where you see yourself in the future as an editor. Determine if you aim to specialize in a specific type of editing, work in a particular industry, or eventually move into managerial or leadership roles.

For example, if your goal is to become an expert in technical editing, seek positions in industries like engineering, IT, or scientific publishing where you can gain relevant experience and build a strong foundation. Or, if you aspire to become an executive editor, explore positions in publishing houses or media companies that have a hierarchical structure and promote from within the organization.

How to Apply to Editor Jobs

Navigate the application process with confidence and land the editor job of your dreams by writing a compelling resume and a standout cover letter. Not sure how? Don’t worry, the following tips will help guide you.

Create a Curated Resume

When applying to jobs for editors your resume format and content count even more than usual. Hiring managers will look at your resume with a critical eye to see if you demonstrate the editorial care you claim to have. Pay attention to your spelling and be extra careful that no typos make it through. Be sure to include keywords from the job listing to help your resume pass any software that HR might be using to scan candidates.

Here are a few examples of optimized content for an editor’s resume:

• Emphasize your experience:“Edited and proofread academic papers for a renowned scientific journal, ensuring adherence to APA style guidelines and maintaining accuracy in technical terminology.”
• Showcase your skills:“Proficient in Adobe InDesign for layout editing, demonstrated by streamlining the design process and enhancing the readability of marketing materials.”
• Highlight your accomplishments:“Improved readability scores by 20% through comprehensive copyediting and restructuring of website content, resulting in increased user engagement.”

Download Monster’s copywriter resume sample that you can easily adapt to all jobs in editing, and if you need extra help use Monster resume writing services.

Add a Cover Letter

Don’t forget to customize and optimize your cover letter as well. Include a few more keywords to describe your skills, references about the job you are applying for, and positive comments about the organization offering it. Check out Monster cover letter samples and the following examples of optimized content for an editor cover letter:

• Customize your letter:“As an avid reader of “Company Publication”, I am thrilled to apply for the editor position, leveraging my expertise in fashion editing to contribute to your renowned publication.”
• Highlight your editing and communication skills:“My meticulous attention to detail and expertise in copyediting allowed me to consistently produce error-free manuscripts, enhancing the quality of published academic research. By fostering open lines of communication with authors, I ensured a collaborative editing process, resulting in improved clarity and coherence in the final publication.”

Send Your Application

If you are serious about getting a job as an editor, step up your game, join Monster for free today, and do the following to make the most out of your membership:

• Activate notifications to receive updates when new editing job listings are published.
• Create one or more versions of your resume, each optimized for a job position in editing that you would like to obtain.
• Upload it to your profile and attract hiring professionals and recruiters.
• Use relevant keywords and filters to narrow down your search results and focus on positions that match your criteria.

How to Follow Up With an Employer

Timing is crucial when following up with an employer after sending your applications for editor jobs. Check whether the job posting specifies a deadline and give the employer sufficient time to review your application before following up. Be mindful that different industries may have different response times.

Choose a professional method to follow up, such as an email to the hiring manager, HR department, or address found on the employer’s official website. Keep your message brief and to the point. For example:

• “Dear (hiring manager’s name), I hope this email finds you well. I recently submitted my application for the editor role at (employer name) and wanted to inquire about the status of my application. I remain enthusiastic about the opportunity and confident in my ability to contribute to the high editorial standards of your organization. Thank you for your consideration. Best regards, (your name)”

Interviewing Tips for Editor Jobs

Confidence, enthusiasm, and a genuine interest in the editing field are key to a successful interview. Use these tips to help you prepare, and to leave a lasting impression on your interviewers.

• Research the company. Familiarize yourself with their content, target audience, editorial style, and any recent publications or projects they have worked on.
• Revisit the job description. Make note of the key responsibilities, skills, and qualifications required for that specific editor job you are interviewing for.
• Think about examples from your past experiences. Reflect on which examples you can use to support your answers and showcase your skills and achievements as an editor. Highlight your experience with different types of content, editing techniques, knowledge of style guides, and ability to maintain consistent quality.
• Prepare thoughtful questions to ask. By asking questions during your interview, you show your enthusiasm and proactive approach. Inquire about their editorial process, team dynamics, or the organization’s future plans.
• Make sure to arrive at the interview on time. If you need to go somewhere in person, leave early to avoid traffic. If the interview is via phone or video, remember to keep your device charged, check your signal, and download and test any software and hardware ahead of time to ensure it goes smoothly.

Common Interview Questions for Editor Jobs

Avoid being caught by surprise by practicing your answers to relevant job interview questions. Some editor positions require you to write yourself as well, so practice with our writer interview question examples.

Here are some typical questions you might encounter when interviewing for editor jobs:

• What specific editing skills do you possess that make you a strong candidate for this position?
• How do you approach editing different types of content, such as articles, newsletters, or marketing materials?
• How do you ensure accuracy and maintain the integrity of the original content while editing?
• What tools or software do you use for editing and proofreading?
• How do you handle feedback and revisions from clients and authors?
• What do you enjoy the most about being an editor, and why are you interested in this particular position?

After the Interview

Navigate this stage with professionalism and confidence with these tips:

• Send a thank-you note within 24 hours of your interview to express your gratitude for the opportunity and highlight key points discussed.
• Respect the timeline for decision-making, be patient, and avoid pressuring the employer for immediate updates.
• If you don’t hear anything back after a while and decide to reach out, send a professional message to reiterate your enthusiasm for the editor position and the organization.

Editor Job Career Paths

Most companies require editors to have at least a bachelor's degree and previous writing and proofreading experience. Preferred majors are journalism, communications, and English.

Editors must be knowledgeable in a broad range of topics as well as with grammar, syntax, punctuation, and other language rules. You’ll also need to be computer literate, imaginative, curious, and able to ensure that writers’ work is error-free and matches the style of a publication.

To succeed and grow in a job in editing, focus on strengthening the following transferable skills:

• ability to work under pressure
• time management
• giving and receiving constructive feedback
• project management
• leadership

These are some common steps on the career paths for editors:

• Technical writer: creates clear and concise documentation, such as user manuals or instructional guides, to communicate complex information in a simplified manner for various audiences.
• Copywriter: specializes in writing persuasive and engaging content for marketing and advertising purposes, aiming to capture the attention of the target audience and drive desired actions.
• Web content producer: responsible for creating and managing content for websites, ensuring it is relevant, engaging, and optimized for search engines to attract and retain online visitors.

Editor Jobs: Similar Occupations

Don’t forget to look at other media jobs on Monster that could be right for you, like:

• online writing jobs
• publishing jobs
• proofreading jobs