How to become a Book Editor (2024)

FAQs

What qualifications do I need to be a book editor? ›

Most English or Communications degrees will do just fine, including journalism, publishing, and creative writing. A master's degree should give you a further edge over the steep competition. A Business or Marketing degree may also qualify you to become an editor, but you'll need to practice and display good writing.

As of Apr 2, 2024, the average hourly pay for a Book Editor in the United States is $30.32 an hour. While ZipRecruiter is seeing hourly wages as high as $76.68 and as low as $7.93, the majority of Book Editor wages currently range between $18.27 (25th percentile) to $38.22 (75th percentile) across the United States.

The occupational outlook is steady with little decline through 2026. However, the ecosystem is in flux with the rise of online and self-publishing. It's a highly competitive industry. The responsibilities of an editor are evolving due to advances in multimedia production and marketing through social media.

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $112,500 and as low as $18,000, the majority of Entry Level Book Editor salaries currently range between $49,500 (25th percentile) to $94,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $107,500 annually across the United States.

As a guideline, you should expect to pay at least $12 per 1,000 words for proofreading, $25 per 1,000 words for copy editing, and $70 per 1,000 words for content editing or rewriting.

job board suggest you may need a minimum of 5-7 years of experience in the book publishing industry (www.bookjobs.com).

The national average salary of a writer is $77,656 per year and the national average salary of an editor is $89,002 per year. This can depend on your type of employment and how long you've worked in the writing industry.

Editing is a lengthy and involved process, and that makes it an expensive one. Any kind of editing takes time and a lot of energy. Most editors can't edit for more than about six hours a day, as the quality drops and they start making mistakes.

Having in-person or remote experience in the publishing industry can help you obtain a position as a work-from-home book editor. You can reach out to those in your professional network to find opportunities to develop your skill set and have work experience for your resume or portfolio.

How do I get hired for editing? ›

Book editors often get their degrees at New York University, Syracuse University, and University of Arizona.

When working alone, the environment is generally quiet to allow the editor to concentrate on the work at hand. Editors also work in teams, allowing for an exchange of ideas and collaboration. They typically work a normal workweek schedule of 40 hours per week, though if a book is near a deadline, they may ...

Best states for an Editor

In fact, our research shows that New York is the best state for editors in America. The best city in America for editors with the highest pay is Washington, DC.

An individual does not need a degree to become a book editor, but most in the role usually have a degree. An undergraduate or postgraduate degree in a relevant subject can help individuals stand out. Some examples of the topics that may increase their chances include (this list is not exhaustive): Publishing.

However, it is possible to get an editing job without a degree. You may just have to work a little harder for it. Editors without a college degree usually work with individual clients on a freelance basis. They may also work for small publishing houses, internet publications, and various other companies.

Book editors share some tasks in common with proofreaders, writers and authors. All of these professionals need a bachelor's degree, preferably in English, journalism or communications.