What Do Editors Do?

Occupation Description Plan, coordinate, or edit content of material for publication. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication. Includes technical editors.

A Day in the Life of an Editor

• Select local, state, national, and international news items received from wire services, based on assessment of items’ significance and interest value.
• Verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard reference sources.
• Plan the contents of publications according to the publication’s style, editorial policy, and publishing requirements.
• Prepare, rewrite and edit copy to improve readability, or supervise others who do this work.
• Make manuscript acceptance or revision recommendations to the publisher.
• Read, evaluate and edit manuscripts or other materials submitted for publication and confer with authors regarding changes in content, style or organization, or publication.

Things an Editor Should Know How to Do

These are the skills Editors say are the most useful in their careers:

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Types of Editor Jobs

• Censor
• Greeting Card Editor
• Book Editor
• Bureau Chief
• Copy Editor

Job Opportunities for Editors

In the United States, there were 127,400 jobs for Editors in 2016.

Editor jobs are decreasing by a rate of -1.4%. This means the total job opportunities are shrinking. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a loss of -1,800 jobs for Editors by 2026. The BLS estimates 12,000 yearly job openings in this field per year.

The states with the most job growth for Editors are California, Washington, and Virginia.

Watch out if you plan on working in New Jersey, Ohio, or Illinois. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

What is the Average Salary of an Editor

The salary for Editors ranges between about $31,500 and $117,810 a year. The median salary for this occupation is $59,480.

How much do Editors make in different U.S. states?

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
District of Columbia	$89,710
Massachusetts	$89,280
New York	$83,070
Hawaii	$78,390
California	$78,150
New Jersey	$74,130
Virginia	$72,660
Texas	$72,300
Connecticut	$71,260
Delaware	$68,790
Washington	$67,560
North Carolina	$67,450
Rhode Island	$66,900
Pennsylvania	$62,870
Illinois	$62,590
Georgia	$61,330
Utah	$60,990
Ohio	$60,670
Maryland	$59,560
Colorado	$59,120
Minnesota	$58,820
Florida	$58,200
Michigan	$58,150
New Hampshire	$57,750
Arizona	$57,180
Nevada	$56,790
Oregon	$55,610
Missouri	$55,460
Tennessee	$54,400
West Virginia	$52,910
Indiana	$51,800
Iowa	$51,480
Alaska	$50,790
Maine	$50,650
Kansas	$50,390
Wyoming	$49,550
Vermont	$48,910
Wisconsin	$48,630
Idaho	$48,160
South Dakota	$48,100
Nebraska	$47,910
Arkansas	$47,480
South Carolina	$46,630
Mississippi	$46,070
Oklahoma	$44,380
New Mexico	$44,370
Kentucky	$44,050
Louisiana	$42,340
Montana	$41,030

Tools & Technologies Used by Editors

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Editors:

• Google Drive
• Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
• Google Docs
• Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
• Google Analytics
• Microsoft Project
• Microsoft Outlook
• Drupal
• Microsoft SharePoint
• Hypertext markup language HTML

Becoming an Editor

What education or degrees do I need to become an Editor?

What work experience do I need to become an Editor?

Where Editors Are Employed

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons