How To Become An Editor: What It Is and Career Path

Q: How do I start my career as an editor?

To start a career as an editor, you need to have some educational credentials and advanced writing skills. As a prospective editor, it is important to develop a strong understanding of writing and grammar skills and gain hands-on experience.

Q: How long does it take to become an editor?

It takes around 4 to 6 years to become an editor. There is no one particular path towards becoming an editor. Nor are there any certification or licensure requirements to work as an editor.

Q: How to become an editor without a degree

To become an editor without a degree, you need to have or develop the necessary skills in editing. Editors need to have a strong eye for detail, a wealth of language and grammatical knowledge, and experience writing for themselves. If you do not possess all of these skills, you must develop them.

Q: What is an editor's job?

An editor's job is to check and correct texts before they are published. There are many types of editors hired to work in different environments. For example, you will find various types of editing jobs at magazines, publishing houses for books, newspapers, and academic journals. Federal agencies and government entities often hire technical writers to produce their publications.

Q: What is the editor hierarchy?

The editor hierarchy consists of several levels of editors, including editorial assistants, assistant editors, associate editors, editors, and editors-in-chief or chief editors. Here is a closer look at each level of the editor hierarchy, starting at the bottom and ascending toward the highest position:

Q: What qualifications do I need to be an editor?

The qualifications needed to become an editor include educational credentials and work experience. There is no one particular path or specific certification or licensure requirements to work as an editor. On average, It takes around 4 to 6 years to become an editor.

What is an editor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Experts

Cathy Irwin Ph.D.,

Gayle Rogers

Editors review, correct, and improve written material for publication. They work with various types of content, such as books, articles, and manuscripts. Editors ensure that the material is accurate, clear, and engaging for the intended audience. They may suggest changes to improve the structure, tone, and style of the writing. Overall, an editor plays a critical role in ensuring that written content meets high standards of quality and is ready for public consumption.

What general advice would you give to an Editor?

Cathy Irwin Ph.D.

Professor of English, University of La Verne

Because of the pandemic, entering the workforce has been hard for many. At the same time, many employers have moved online and are meeting with clients and customers through Zoom and other online platforms. As a result, employers now, more than ever, need employees who have excellent communication skills.

English majors from La Verne graduate with excellent writing and critical thinking skills. As a result, they do have opportunities after they graduate. Many of them are hired in jobs because of their writing and editing skills. A large percentage of students decide to go to graduate school. They want to serve their communities, so they become teachers, librarians, lawyers, and officers in non-profits or the city sector.

The medical field is also starting to welcome students from the humanities because they are looking for well-rounded, articulate, and compassionate people. If students with a humanities degree want to go into the health or medical sector, they can apply to one-year post-baccalaureate programs that lead to medical school.

ScoreEditorUS Average

Salary

4.1

Avg. Salary $52,107

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 7.30%

Black or African American 3.61%

Hispanic or Latino 8.18%

Unknown 4.59%

White 76.05%

Gender

female 53.57%

male 46.43%

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

What are the pros and cons of being an Editor?

Pros:

Chance to help writers improve their work
Possibility to work in a variety of industries (e.g. publishing, journalism, marketing)
Potential to work remotely or freelance
Opportunity to learn about different subjects through editing different types of content
Opportunity to make a difference by ensuring accuracy and clarity in written material

Cons:

Can be tedious and time-consuming work
Often requires working under tight deadlines
Can be emotionally draining if working with sensitive or controversial material
Requires the ability to give constructive criticism, which can be challenging for some individuals
May involve dealing with difficult or uncooperative writers or clients

Key steps to become an editor

Explore editor education requirements

Most common editor degrees

Bachelor's

76.5 %

Master's

10.4 %

Associate

6.9 %

Start to develop specific editor skills

Skills	Percentages
Web Content	12.96%
Video Content	8.82%
SEO	6.33%
Facebook	3.99%
Editor-In-Chief	3.52%

Complete relevant editor training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New 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 editor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real editor resumes.

Research editor duties and responsibilities

Manage content QC and Disney client QC of create content.
Manage campaign performance through data analysis and reporting, with actionable takeaways per designate KPI.
Manage and create newsletter archives for NASA: http: //www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/home/index.html
Manage business documentation for the department's strategic alignment SharePoint database.

Prepare your editor resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your 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 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 Editor Resume templates

Build a professional 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 Editor resume.

Apply for editor jobs

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

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

How Did You Land Your First Editor Job

Jackson Drake

Editor

It all started as a child for me. Cameras always piqued my interest whether it was for school projects or for filming skateboarding videos with my friends. My older brother Woodrow was the movie buff in our family and attended film school at Drexel University. Inspired by both my passion for video and my brother I took it upon myself to create a YouTube channel based on automotive content.
To build my YouTube channel, I attended half-mile racing events to capture footage. At an event in Georgia, I was approached by Nathan Cicio the owner of Cicio Performance (formerly known as Top Speed Motorsports). Nathan asked me to provide my services to his company and for several years I traveled the country filming and photographing their exotic car builds.
After securing my first client I expanded my clientele to other automotive performance shops and various industries. This is how I learned how to polish my skills as a videographer and photographer. Learning is the utmost important part of being a successful creative alongside learning how to obtain clients and contracts. I have since utilized my skills and experience to work for large corporations and private clients around the country!
If I have any advice for aspiring videographers and editors it would be to learn as much as you can on your own time. Seek out your own opportunities and network. Your start will be slow but you will want to ensure your skills are up to par when bigger projects/clients come your way!

How do editors rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Editor reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020

Pros

I love hearing stories from other sources.

Cons

people not providing accurate information

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2019

Pros

I learned to read and write at an early age and have avidly pursued it since. Beside school publications and assignments, I've sought out numerous outlets for my love of writing, from features and sports writer for my local weekly news paper, to AP stringer for election coverage, to a Pohlad family internship at one of southeastern Minnesota's most respected dailies.

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019

Pros

Set your own schedule work from home. Determine your own salary. Dictate your hours. Choose the jobs you want.

What is an editor and how to become one

What general advice would you give to an Editor?

What are the pros and cons of being an Editor?

Editor career paths

Key steps to become an editor

Explore editor education requirements

Most common editor degrees

Start to develop specific editor skills

Complete relevant editor training and internships

Research editor duties and responsibilities

Prepare your editor resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Editor Resume templates

Apply for editor jobs

How Did You Land Your First Editor Job

Average editor salary

How do editors rate their job?

Editor reviews

Editor FAQs

How do I start my career as an editor?

How long does it take to become an editor?

How to become an editor without a degree

What is an editor's job?

What is the editor hierarchy?

What qualifications do I need to be an editor?

Search for editor jobs

Editor jobs by state