Editor

Pay

Getting in

Typical entry education

Bachelor's degree

On-the-job training

None

Prior experience

Less than 5 years

Calculate your switch to editor

What the work is like

Core tasks

• Verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard reference sources.
• Write text, such as headlines, stories, articles, editorials, or newsletters.
• Read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, and syntax.
• Prepare, rewrite and edit copy to improve readability, or supervise others who do this work.
• Develop story or content ideas, considering reader or audience appeal.
• Allocate print space for story text, photos, and illustrations according to space parameters and copy significance, using knowledge of layout principles.
• Confer with management and editorial staff members regarding placement and emphasis of developing news stories.
• Oversee publication production, including artwork, layout, computer typesetting, and printing, ensuring adherence to deadlines and budget requirements.

Also called: Acquisitions Editor · Assignment Editor · Business Editor · Features Editor · Legal Editor · Newspaper Copy Editor · Opinions Page Editor · Publishing Editor

Outlook and AI

Editors held 105,000 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 103,800 by 2035 (−1%, little or no change; all jobs: +3.5%).

Compare with

• Editor vs. Proofreaders and copy markers
• Editor vs. Film and video editors
• Editor vs. News analysts, reporters, and journalists
• Editor vs. Writers and authors
• Editor vs. Technical writer
• Editor vs. Producers and directors
• Editor vs. Desktop publisher
• Editor vs. Public relations specialist
• Editor vs. Art director