How to Become an Editor
Not a lot of people enjoy writing. So what's the opposite of writing? Editing. If you don't enjoy writing, maybe you will enjoy editing other people's mistakes. Maybe that red pen will become your best friend.
Essentially editors plan, review and revise content before it is released for publication. While most editors work in an office, there are a lot of remote opportunities for editors so maybe you could make your couch your home office.
What Does an Editor Do
Editors plan, review, and revise content for publication.
How To Become an Editor
A bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, or English, combined with previous writing and proofreading experience, is typically required to be an editor.
EducationEmployers generally prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, or English. They also prefer candidates with mass- or cross-media experience.
Those with other backgrounds who can show strong writing skills also may find jobs as editors. Editors who deal with specific subject matter may need previous related work experience. For example, fashion editors may need expertise in fashion that they gain through formal training or work experience.
Work Experience in a Related OccupationMany editors start off as editorial assistants, writers, or reporters.
Those who are particularly skilled at identifying good stories, recognizing writing talent, and interacting with writers may be interested in editing jobs.
Other ExperienceEditors also can gain experience by working on high school and college newspapers, and for magazines, radio and television stations, advertising and publishing companies, or nonprofit organizations. Magazines and newspapers also have internships for students. For example, the American Society of Magazine Editors offers a Magazine Internship Program to qualified full-time students in their junior or senior year of college. Interns may write stories, conduct research and interviews, and gain general publishing experience.
The ability to use computers is necessary for editors to stay in touch with writers and other editors and to work on the increasingly important digital media or online side of a publication. Familiarity with electronic publishing, graphics, Web design, and multimedia production is also important, because more content is being offered online.
AdvancementSome editors hold management positions and must make decisions related to running a business. For them, advancement generally means moving up to publications with larger circulation or greater prestige. Copy editors may move into original writing or substantive editing positions, or become freelancers.
Important QualitiesCreativity. Editors must be creative, curious, and knowledgeable in a broad range of topics. Some editors must regularly come up with interesting story ideas and attention-grabbing headlines.
Detail oriented. One of an editor’s main tasks is to make sure that material is error free and matches the style of a publication.
Good judgment. Editors must decide if certain stories are ethical or if there is enough evidence to report them.
Interpersonal skills. In working with writers, editors must have tact and the ability to guide and encourage them in their work.
Writing skills. Editors must ensure that all written content has correct grammar, punctuation, and syntax. Editors must be able to write clearly and logically.
Editor Career Paths
In addition to switching up your job search, it might prove helpful to look at a career path for your specific job. Now, what's a career path you ask? Well, it's practically a map that shows how you might advance from one job title to another. Our career paths are especially detailed with salary changes. So, for example, if you started out with the role of technical writer you might progress to a role such as project manager eventually. Later on in your career, you could end up with the title brand director.
Average Salary for an Editor
What Am I Worth?
Top Colleges for Editors
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
3. New York University
New York, NY • Private
4. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
5. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
7. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
8. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
9. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
10. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
Top Skills For an Editor
The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 13.6% of editors listed web content on their resume, but soft skills such as creativity and detail oriented are important as well.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Editor Resume templates
Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Editor templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Editor resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Editor Demographics
Editor Gender Distribution
After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- Among editors, 53.6% of them are women, while 46.4% are men.
- The most common race/ethnicity among editors is White, which makes up 77.0% of all editors.
- The most common foreign language among editors is Spanish at 39.9%.
Online Courses For Editor That You May Like
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Learn how to start or add editing to your freelance offerings!...
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Best States For an Editor
Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as an editor. The best states for people in this position are Washington, New York, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. Editors make the most in Washington with an average salary of $73,142. Whereas in New York and Rhode Island, they would average $66,738 and $65,171, respectively. While editors would only make an average of $64,022 in New Hampshire, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.
1. New York
$66,738
Avg. Salary
2. Washington
$73,142
Avg. Salary
3. Rhode Island
$65,171
Avg. Salary
How Do Editor Rate Their Jobs?
Top Editor Employers
We've made finding a great employer to work for easy by doing the hard work for you. We looked into employers that employ editors and discovered their number of editor opportunities and average salary. Through our research, we concluded that Bloomberg was the best, especially with an average salary of $88,459. Odyssey follows up with an average salary of $52,535, and then comes Pearson with an average of $53,506. In addition, we know most people would rather work from home. So instead of having to change careers, we identified the best employers for remote work as an editor. The employers include Edmunds Holding Company Inc, The Boston Globe, and Reorg
Most Common Employers For Editor
| Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Microsoft | $123,220 | $59.24 | 25 |
| 2 | Bloomberg | $88,459 | $42.53 | 96 |
| 3 | Yahoo | $82,970 | $39.89 | 33 |
| 4 | The Motley Fool | $76,156 | $36.61 | 28 |
| 5 | National Football League | $75,031 | $36.07 | 25 |
| 6 | Thomson Reuters | $56,889 | $27.35 | 28 |
| 7 | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt | $55,853 | $26.85 | 40 |
| 8 | Dow Jones | $55,763 | $26.81 | 27 |
| 9 | ViacomCBS | $54,934 | $26.41 | 35 |
| 10 | Arrow Electronics | $54,712 | $26.30 | 47 |
Editor Videos
Becoming an Editor FAQs
How do I start my career as an editor?
To start a career as an editor, you need to have some educational credentials and advanced writing skills. As a prospective editor, it is important to develop a strong understanding of writing and grammar skills and gain hands-on experience.
How long does it take to become an editor?
It takes around 4 to 6 years to become an editor. There is no one particular path towards becoming an editor. Nor are there any certification or licensure requirements to work as an editor.
What is an editor's job?
An editor's job is to check and correct texts before they are published. There are many types of editors hired to work in different environments.
For example, you will find various types of editing jobs at magazines, publishing houses for books, newspapers, and academic journals. Federal agencies and government entities often hire technical writers to produce their publications.
What qualifications do I need to be an editor?
The qualifications needed to become an editor include educational credentials and work experience. There is no one particular path or specific certification or licensure requirements to work as an editor. On average, It takes around 4 to 6 years to become an editor.