What Does an Editor Do? Duties, Pay & Outlook

What does an editor do?

Editors plan, review and revise content for publication in books, newspapers, magazines and websites. The median pay is $77,920 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about Writing experience plus on-the-job learning, and employment is projected to grow -1.1% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

Median pay
$77,920
$37.46/hour · May 2025
Job growth
-1.1%
2025–35, a projected decline
Openings per year
7,900
Average, 2025–35
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
BLS classification
Time to train
Writing experience plus on-the-job learning
Typical program length
U.S. jobs
105,000
Employment, 2025

What editors do

Editors make writing better. They choose stories and manuscripts, assign work, edit for clarity, accuracy and style, fact-check, write headlines and manage publishing schedules for news, magazines, books, companies and websites.

A bachelor’s degree and some writing experience are typical. BLS projects slight decline.

Typical duties

Plan content
Assign stories
Edit copy
Fact-check
Write headlines
Manage schedules
Work with writers

Work environment and schedule

Editors work in offices and remotely.

Schedule: Full time, with deadline crunches.

A day in the life

8:30 AMPlan today’s content.
9:30 AMEdit a feature.
11:00 AMFact-check claims.
12:30 PMWrite headlines.

See a full day in the life of an editor →

Editor salary

Half of editors earned more than $77,920 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $41,250 for the lowest 10% to $153,700 for the top 10%.

$41,25010th$77,920Median$153,70090th

Full editor pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become an editor

Earn a bachelor’s
Write and edit
Work as an editorial assistant
Edit copy
Advance

A bachelor’s degree in English, journalism or communications is typical.

Step-by-step guide to becoming an editor →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

Line editing
Copyediting
Fact-checking
Headline writing
Style guides

People skills

Judgment
Diplomacy
Attention to detail
Organization

All editor skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

Work with words
Remote options
Shape what people read
Varied industries

Cons

Slight decline
Deadline pressure
Media layoffs
Screen time

Certifications and licenses

Editing certificate: University programs.
ACES training: Society for Editing.
SEO certification: Helpful.
Publishing course: Helpful.

Career path

Editorial Assistant: Entry.
Copy Editor: Edit.
Senior Editor: Lead sections.
Editor-in-Chief: Lead publication.

Learn the job before day one

Our Editor training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as edit a story in three passes and give writers feedback they can use, safety and how to land your first job.

View Editor training Is this career right for me?

Writer

Write books, scripts, ads and articles for readers and audiences.

$76,910
Years of practice

Proofreader

Catch errors in text before it’s printed or published.

$51,120
Short on-the-job training

Journalist

Find, report and tell the stories that keep the public informed.

$62,200
4 years

Technical Writer

Explain complex products and processes in clear, usable documentation.

$90,390
4 years or technical background plus writing training

Compare: Editor vs. Writer · Editor vs. Proofreader · Editor vs. Journalist · Editor vs. Technical Writer

Editor FAQ

Do editors need a degree?

Usually a bachelor’s.

Can editors work remotely?

Many do.

Is the job growing?

BLS projects slight decline.

How much does an editor make?

The median annual wage for editors was $77,920 ($37.46 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $41,250 and the highest 10% earned more than $153,700.

How long does it take to become an editor?

Most people need about Writing experience plus on-the-job learning of training. A bachelor’s degree in English, journalism or communications is typical.

Do you need a degree to be an editor?

Usually, yes. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education, although skills, certifications and experience can sometimes substitute.

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 27-3041 (Editors).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
O*NET OnLine summary for Editors (U.S. Department of Labor).
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

Editor