What Does An Editor Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Stan T.Career, Overview

Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Editors

Editors plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication.

Salary
$73910
Becoming One
Hard
Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth
Low

Personality
Interest Match


What they do

Editors plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication.

  • Read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, and syntax.
  • Verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard reference sources.
  • Read, evaluate and edit manuscripts or other materials submitted for publication and confer with authors regarding changes in content, style or organization, or publication.
  • Develop story or content ideas, considering reader or audience appeal.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Editors read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, and syntax. They allocate print space for story text, photos, and illustrations according to space parameters and copy significance, using knowledge of layout principles.

A typical day for an Editor will also include:

  • Select local, state, national, and international news items received from wire services, based on the assessment of items’ significance and interest value.
  • Plan the contents of publications according to the publication’s style, editorial policy, and publishing requirements.
  • Read, evaluate and edit manuscripts or other materials submitted for publication and confer with authors regarding changes in content, style or organization, or publication.
  • Prepare, rewrite and edit copy to improve readability, or supervise others who do this work.
  • Oversee publication production, including artwork, layout, computer typesetting, and printing, ensuring adherence to deadlines and budget requirements.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Editors also direct the policies and departments of newspapers, magazines, and other publishing establishments. They may also make manuscript acceptance or revision recommendations to the publisher.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Editors arrange for copyright permissions. They might also meet frequently with artists, typesetters, layout personnel, marketing directors, and production managers to discuss projects and resolve problems.

In addition, they confer with management and editorial staff members regarding placement and emphasis on developing news stories.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard reference sources.

To some Editors, it is also their responsibility to interview and hire writers and reporters or negotiate contracts, royalties, and payments for authors or freelancers.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Average

Is this job meaningful

Low

65% said they were satisfied with their job and 42% said they found their job meaningful.


The Nines

I’m Lisa Sanchez, the Fashion Editor of The Nines. My Typical Day Morning I like to start my morning off with a little inspiration before having to deal with monotonous administrative work. I spend no more than 15 minutes browsing Instagram and celebrity blogs eyeing up the best outfits for the day. Energized, I kick … Read More


MagicGuides.com

I’m the editor of MagicGuides.com, a website dedicated to Disney travel. I pretty much run day-to-day operations. We’re essentially a 2-person operation so that means I end up being “the boss of myself” most of the time. On a typical day, I work on new articles or revise old information. It’s a challenge to keep … Read More


Voltcave

I’m the Lead Editor at Voltcave, a content publication centered around PC hardware and gaming. My typical workday starts with getting straight into content creation mode. Whether I’m working on my own article or editing one of our writers’, I spend the first half of most workdays getting quality content published. The latter half of … Read More


Autotrader

A typical day includes meetings, writing, editing the work of others, planning future vehicle and tech coverage, doing media interviews on topics like fuel economy, new technology, best electric cars, and whether leasing or buying a car is best. It’s also fun to come up with new ways of covering new cars and tech. Some … Read More


Pros

Suitable for people who like to work with designs.

Suitable for people who want independence and like to work on their own and make decisions.

This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.

Very good salary.

Cons

Not suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).

How much do they make

Average salary

$73910 per year

Average hourly wage

$36 per hour

Entry-level Editors with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $33,620 to $45,310 per year or $16 to $22 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $126,800 $61
Senior (Top 25%) $89,530 $43
Median $63,400 $30
Junior (Bottom 25%) $45,310 $22
No experience (Bottom 10%) $33,620 $16

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Editors based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Specialized Design Services $106670 $51.29
Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities $103580 $49.80
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services $99810 $47.99
Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services $90150 $43.34
Insurance Carriers $89980 $43.26
Grantmaking and Giving Services $89890 $43.22
Specialty Hospitals $88840 $42.71
Legal Services $88060 $42.34
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing $87770 $42.20
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing $85830 $41.27

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Editors work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Editors including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers 38410 $69710 $33.52
Other Information Services 11720 $79920 $38.42
Radio and Television Broadcasting 4890 $71540 $34.39
Motion Picture and Video Industries 4590 $84130 $40.45
Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services 3920 $90150 $43.34
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 3530 $68280 $32.83
Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations 3010 $77710 $37.36
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 2780 $71330 $34.30
Management of Companies and Enterprises 1500 $75390 $36.24
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 1360 $83400 $40.10

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
13%

40 hours
54%

More than 40 hours
33%

Working schedule

89%

11%

0%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
8%

Every day
90%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
32%

Every day
62%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
15%

Every day
83%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
18%

Once a year
32%

Once a month
40%

Once a week
11%

Every day
0%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
10%

Slightly competitive
9%

Moderately competitive
34%

Highly competitive
41%

Extremely competitive
7%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
2%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
4%

Every day
95%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
95%

Once a year or more
5%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
54%

Once a year or more
37%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
9%

Every day
0%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
88%

Once a year or more
3%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
9%

Every day
0%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Hard
You will need a considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Careers in this difficulty category usually require a Bachelor’s degree and several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. Similar careers include Database Administrators, Chemists, Art Directors, and Accountants.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
0%

High School Diploma or equivalent
0%

Post-Secondary Certificate
0%

Some College Courses
0%

Associate’s Degree or similar
0%

Bachelor’s Degree
80%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
1%

Master’s Degree
17%

Post-Master’s Certificate
1%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

Grantsmanship

A program that prepares individuals to develop and write grant proposals to support an organization or cause. Includes instruction in identifying grant opportunities, developing an effective proposal, budget justifications, and developing a working relationship with the funder.

Business/Corporate Communications

A program that prepares individuals to function in an organization as a composer, editor, and proofreader of business or business-related communications.

Business/Corporate Communications

Any program in business or corporate communications not included above.


Creative Writing

A program that focuses on the process and techniques of original composition in various literary forms such as the short story, poetry, the novel, and others. Includes instruction in technical and editorial skills, criticism, and the marketing of finished manuscripts.

Children’s and Adolescent Literature

A program that focuses on the scholarly study of children's and adolescent literature and that may enhance the professional work of teachers, librarians, publishers, booksellers, and creative writers. Includes instruction in period and genre studies, author studies, literary criticism, studies of various types of literary text, book artists, and children's films.


General Literature

A program that focuses on literature from one or more genres, cultures or traditions. Includes instruction in period and genre studies, author studies, literary criticism, and studies of various types of literary text.

Rhetoric and Composition

A program that focuses on the humanistic and scientific study of rhetoric, composition, literacy, and language/linguistic theories and their practical and pedagogical applications. Includes instruction in historical and contemporary rhetoric/composition theories; composition and criticism of written, visual, and mixed-media texts; analysis of literacy practices in cultural and cross-cultural contexts; and writing program administration.


Professional, Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing

A program that focuses on professional, technical, business, and scientific writing; and that prepares individuals for academic positions or for professional careers as writers, editors, researchers, and related careers in business, government, non-profits, and the professions. Includes instruction in theories of rhetoric, writing, and digital literacy; document design, production, and management; visual rhetoric and multimedia composition; documentation development; usability testing; web writing; and publishing in print and electronic media.

Writing

A program that focuses on writing for applied and liberal arts purposes. Includes instruction in writing and document design in multiple genres, modes, and media; writing technologies; research, evaluation, and use of information; editing and publishing; theories and processes of composing; rhetorical theories, traditions, and analysis; communication across audiences, contexts, and cultures; and practical applications for professional, technical, organizational, academic, and public settings.


Publishing

A program that focuses on the process of managing the creation, publication, and distribution of print and electronic books and other text products and prepares individuals to manage the editorial, technical, and business aspects of publishing operations. Includes instruction in product planning and design, editing, author relations, business and copyright law, publishing industry operations, contracting and purchasing, product marketing, electronic publishing and commerce, history of publishing, and professional standards and ethics.

Technical and Scientific Communication

A program that focuses on the communication of technical and scientific knowledge to a variety of audiences through print, video, and digital media; and that prepares individuals to function as technical writers and editors, documentation developers, web designers, and usability specialists. Includes instruction in scientific and technical writing and editing, graphic and information design, web design, audience analysis, document usability and field testing, publications management, and applications to specific technical fields.

Broadcast Journalism

A program that focuses on the methods and techniques for reporting, producing, and delivering news and news programs via radio, television, and video/film media; and that prepares individuals to be professional broadcast journalists, editors, producers, directors, and managers. Includes instruction in the principles of broadcast technology; broadcast reporting; on- and off-camera and microphone procedures and techniques; program, sound, and video/film editing; program design and production; media law and policy; and professional standards and ethics.


Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
0%

1 month
0%

1 to 3 months
3%

3 to 6 months
0%

6 months to 1 year
12%

1 to 2 years
15%

2 to 4 years
30%

4 to 6 years
20%

6 to 8 years
9%

8 to 10 years
12%

Over 10 years
0%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
14%

1 month
19%

1 to 3 months
9%

3 to 6 months
16%

6 months to 1 year
34%

1 to 2 years
0%

2 to 4 years
9%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Artist

People with this personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.

The Builder
19%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
29%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
90%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
29%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
86%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
57%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like working with forms, designs, and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
76%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
62%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
71%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
62%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
57%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
86%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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