How to Become an Editor
Shape written work from draft to publication: plan coverage, sharpen copy, and decide what runs. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $77,920 per year and slower than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$77,920/yr
Middle half
$57,300 to $106,100
Job growth
Slower than average
Openings / yr
9,800
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Editing
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Judgment
- Deadline Management
Helpful certifications
- Editorial internships and portfolio
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
75/100
Work-life balance
66/100
Stress level
59/100
Related careers
- Art Director$114,850 median
- Animator / Special Effects Artist$102,030 median
- Industrial Designer$83,910 median
- Fashion Designer$80,960 median
- Writer / Author$76,910 median
- Film and Video Editor$75,420 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Editor make?
The median pay for an Editor is $77,920 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $57,300 and $106,100 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become an Editor?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are English, Journalism, Communications, Philosophy, and Creative Writing.
Is Editor a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is slower than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 9,800 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does an Editor use most?
Common skills for this role are Editing, Reading Comprehension, Writing, Judgment, and Deadline Management.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).