### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Editors Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            									
							
				                                                
                                            




            			editors imageEditors plan, coordinate, and revise material for publication.							
						Quick Facts:     Editors2023     Median Pay
            						$75,020     per year
										$36.07     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Bachelor's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    Less than 5 yearsOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    122,100Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    -4% (Decline)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    -4,900What Editors Do
                                                
                        
                        
Editors plan, review, and revise content for publication.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Most editors work in offices, whether onsite with their employer or from a remote location. The work can be stressful because editors often have tight deadlines.
            
                                                How to Become an Editor
                                                
                        
Editors typically need a bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, or English, along with writing and proofreading experience.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for editors was $75,020 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of editors is projected to decline							 4 percent from 2022 to 2032.
						Despite declining  employment, about 11,600 openings for editors are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for editors.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of editors with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about editors by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Editors Do 
            

			EditorsEditors constantly work under pressure to meet deadlines.			
Editors plan, review, and revise content for publication.
Duties
Editors typically do the following:
Read content and correct spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors
Rewrite text to make it easier for readers to understand
Verify facts cited in material for publication
Evaluate submissions from writers to decide what to publish
Work with writers to help their ideas and stories succeed
Develop story and content ideas according to the publication’s style and editorial policy
Allocate space for the text, photos, and illustrations that make up a story or content
Approve final versions submitted by staffEditors plan, coordinate, and revise material for publication in books, newspapers, or periodicals or on websites. Editors review story ideas and decide what material will appeal most to readers. During the review process, editors offer comments to improve the product and suggest titles and headlines. In smaller organizations, a single editor may do all the editorial duties or share them with only a few other people.
The following are examples of types of editors:
***Assistant editors*** are responsible for a particular subject, such as local news, international news, feature stories, or sports. Most assistant editors work for newspaper publishers, television broadcasters, magazines, book publishers, or advertising and public relations firms.
***Copy editors*** proofread text for errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling and check for readability, style, and agreement with editorial policy. They suggest revisions, such as changing words and rearranging sentences and paragraphs to improve clarity or accuracy. They also may carry out research, confirm sources, and verify facts, dates, and statistics. In addition, they may arrange page layouts of articles, photographs, and advertising.
***Executive editors*** oversee assistant editors and generally have the final say about which stories are published and how those stories are covered. Executive editors typically hire writers, reporters, and other employees. They also plan budgets and negotiate contracts with freelance writers, who are sometimes called “stringers” in the news industry. Although many executive editors work for newspaper publishers, some work for television broadcasters, magazines, or advertising and public relations firms.
***Managing editors*** typically work for magazines, newspaper publishers, and television broadcasters and are responsible for the daily operations of a news department.
***Publication assistants*** who work for book-publishing houses may read and evaluate manuscripts, proofread uncorrected drafts, and answer questions about published material. Assistants on small newspapers or in smaller media markets may compile articles available from wire services or the Internet, answer phones, and proofread articles.
 Work Environment
			EditorsEditors usually work full time in offices.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Editors held about 122,100 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of editors were as follows:
        Self-employed workers
                13%Newspaper publishers
                12Professional, scientific, and technical services
                12Motion picture and video industries
                9Media streaming distribution services, social networks, and other media networks and content providers
                7Most editors work in offices, whether onsite with their employer or from a remote location. They often use desktop or electronic publishing software, scanners, and other electronic communications equipment.
Jobs are somewhat concentrated in major media and entertainment markets—Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, DC—but improved communications and Internet capabilities are allowing editors to work from a greater variety of locations.
Overseeing and coordinating multiple writing projects simultaneously is common among editors and may lead to stress or fatigue.
Self-employed editors face the added pressures of finding work on an ongoing basis and continually adjusting to new work environments.
Work Schedules
Most editors work full time, and their schedules are generally determined by production deadlines and type of editorial position. Editors typically work in busy offices and have to deal with production deadline pressures and the stresses of ensuring that the information they publish is correct. As a result, editors often work many hours, especially at those times leading up to a publication deadline. These work hours can be even more frequent when an editor is working on digital material for the Internet or for a live broadcast.
 How to Become an Editor

			editors imageA college degree is typically required for someone to be 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.
Education
Editors typically need a bachelor's degree in English or a related field, such as communications or journalism.
Candidates with other backgrounds who can show strong writing skills also may find jobs as editors. Editors who deal with specific subject matter may need 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 Occupation
Many 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 Experience
Editors can gain experience by working on high school and college newspapers and for magazines, radio and television stations, advertising and publishing companies. Magazines and newspapers may have offer student internships. 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.
Editors need to be proficient in computer use, including electronic publishing, graphics, Web design, social media, and multimedia production.
Advancement
Some 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 Qualities
***Creativity.*** Editors must be imaginative, curious, and knowledgeable in a broad range of topics. Some editors must regularly come up with interesting content or story ideas and attention-grabbing headlines.
***Detail oriented.*** Editors must be meticulous to ensure that material is error free and matches the style of a publication.
***Good judgment.*** Editors decide whether certain stories are ethical and whether there is enough evidence to publish 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 ensure that all written content has correct grammar, punctuation, and syntax. Editors must be able to write clearly and logically.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                EditorsMedian annual wages, May 2023Editors$75,020  Media and communication workers$66,320  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for editors was $75,020 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $38,790, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $138,920.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for editors in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Motion picture and video industries
                $104,720Media streaming distribution services, social networks, and other media networks and content providers
                79,780Professional, scientific, and technical services
                77,690Newspaper publishers
                56,900Most editors work full time, and their schedules are generally determined by production deadlines and type of editorial position. Editors typically work in busy offices and have to deal with production deadline pressures and the stresses of ensuring that the information they publish is correct. As a result, editors often work many hours, especially at those times leading up to a publication deadline. These work hours can be even more frequent when an editor is working on digital material for the Internet or for a live broadcast.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
               EditorsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Media and communication workers3%  Total, all occupations3%  Editors-4%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of editors is projected to decline				 4 percent from 2022 to 2032.
			
			Despite declining  employment, about 11,600 openings for editors are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
As traditional print publications lose ground to other media formats, editors are shifting their focus to online media. Despite the growth in online media, decreases in traditional print magazine and newspaper readership will cause a decline in overall employment of editors.
			

                        Employment projections data for     editors, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Editors**
			27-3041
			122,100
			117,300
			-4
			-4,900
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Editors **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of editors. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists**
            News analysts, reporters, and journalists keep the public updated about current events and noteworthy information.
            Bachelor's degree
            $57,500**Technical Writers**
            Technical writers prepare instruction manuals, how-to guides, journal articles, and other supporting documents to communicate complex and technical information more easily.
            Bachelor's degree
            $80,050**Writers and Authors**
            Writers and authors develop written content for various types of media.
            Bachelor's degree
            $73,690**Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers**
            Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers plan programs to generate interest in products or services.
            Bachelor's degree
            $156,580**Desktop Publishers**
            Desktop publishers use computer software to design page layouts for items that are printed or published online.
            Associate's degree
            $51,290
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about editors, visit
American Copy Editors Society
American Society of Magazine Editors
Association of Alternative Newsmedia
Radio Television Digital News Association
Occupational Requirements Survey
For a profile highlighting selected BLS data on occupational requirements, see
Editors (PDF)

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Editors
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Editors, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/editors.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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