What is an associate editor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Expert
Bradley Shreve
introduction image

Associate editors work in many different fields, such as multimedia companies, graphic design studios, and marketing departments of organizations. Their main role is to ensure that the work of subordinate staff is up to par with the client or the company's standards and that every piece of work is submitted on time.

The duties of an associate editor vary depending on the kind of work that they edit, but their general responsibility is to look over the work of subordinate employees and make edits or modifications as necessary. They are also often in charge of turning away work and requesting do-overs as they see fit.

Usually, associate editors have bachelor's degrees with majors that are relevant to their industry. For example, an associate editor for a newspaper usually has a degree in journalism, while an associate editor for a marketing department may have a background in marketing or communications.

When it comes to salary, associate editors usually earn around $25 an hour, which is about $51,000 per year.

What general advice would you give to an Associate Editor?

Bradley ShreveBradley Shreve LinkedIn Profile

Editor, Tribal College Journal

Be flexible. An undergraduate degree in history offers a solid liberal arts background, but not a skill set that is finely tuned for most jobs. Think outside the box, and understand that the job you land probably won't be in the history profession.
ScoreAssociate EditorUS Average
Salary
4.4

Avg. Salary $55,999

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
6.7

Growth Rate -5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.27%

Asian 7.21%

Black or African American 3.57%

Hispanic or Latino 8.07%

Unknown 4.58%

White 76.30%

Gender

female 56.76%

male 43.24%

Age - 43
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43
Stress Level
6.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
9.0

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
4.3

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Associate Editor career paths

Key steps to become an associate editor

  1. Explore associate editor education requirements

    Most common associate editor degrees

    Bachelor's

    81.0 %

    Master's

    11.7 %

    Associate

    3.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific associate editor skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    WordPress9.41%
    Web Content8.46%
    SEO6.77%
    Edit Content6.10%
    Proofreading6.10%
  3. Complete relevant associate editor training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New associate editors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an associate editor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real associate editor resumes.
  4. Research associate editor duties and responsibilities

    • Lead development and launch of typesetting service.
    • Project manage and write RFP submissions for private industry and federal request for proposals.
    • Manage proofreading process for RFP responses, collateral, and other documents to ensure consistency and high quality.
    • Assume full editorial responsibility when editor are unavailable, including managing social media accounts and assigning content to freelancers and photographers.
  5. Prepare your associate editor resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your associate editor resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an associate editor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Associate Editor Resume templates

    Build a professional Associate Editor resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Associate Editor resume.
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    Associate Editor Resume
  6. Apply for associate editor jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an associate editor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Associate Editor Job

Zippi

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Average associate editor salary

The average Associate Editor salary in the United States is $55,999 per year or $27 per hour. Associate editor salaries range between $39,000 and $79,000 per year.

Average Associate Editor Salary
$55,999 Yearly
$26.92 hourly

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How do associate editors rate their job?

-/5

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Associate Editor reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

I love hearing stories from other sources.

Cons

people not providing accurate information


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2019
Pros

Being an editor allowed me to give shape to a story or point of view that I otherwise would not have had any say in. I got to create a vision and put my mark on the work.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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