Editors

Editors spend their days planning, coordinating, and revising written materials to prepare them for publication. They review book proposals, drafts, and articles, interpreting the meaning of information for others and documenting details carefully. This role requires strong artistic interests and creative thinking to shape content effectively.

To succeed, editors must gather information, organize and prioritize their tasks, and communicate regularly with supervisors, peers, and people outside their organization. They often work directly with the public to manage relationships. Key skills for this profession include reading comprehension, writing, active listening, critical thinking, and time management.

Editors rely on a deep knowledge of the English language, communications, media, and customer service. They also benefit from understanding design, administration, and computers. To handle the daily demands of the job, editors need specific work styles, particularly attention to detail, dependability, initiative, intellectual curiosity, and stress tolerance.

Entering this career typically requires a bachelor's degree. Because this occupation is classified under O*NET Job Zone 4, most editors need considerable preparation, which includes both their four-year college degree and several years of related work experience in writing or publishing.

Students interested in becoming editors can choose from several relevant college majors. Common fields of study include communication and media studies, journalism, literature, and rhetoric and composition or writing studies. Other applicable majors include public relations, advertising, and applied communication, business or corporate communications, and publishing.

There are no specific licenses, certifications, or professional associations listed as mandatory for this career. Instead, aspiring editors usually build their credentials by gaining experience in entry-level writing, proofreading, or reporting roles before advancing into editorial positions.

In 2025, the median annual pay for editors was $77,920. This means half of the workers in this field earned more than this amount, and half earned less. The lowest 10% of editors earned less than $41,250, while the highest 10% earned more than $153,700.

There were 91,690 people employed in this occupation. Between 2025 and 2035, employment for editors is projected to decline by -1.1%. Despite this slight decline in total jobs, the field is still expected to have 7,900 openings each year as workers retire or transfer to other occupations.