Logo

Book Editors


Overview

Book Editors

Introduction

Book editors acquire and prepare written material for publication in book form. Such formats include trade books (fiction and nonfiction), textbooks, and technical and professional books (which include reference books). A book editor's duties may include contracting for and evaluating a manuscript, accepting or rejecting it, rewriting, correcting spelling and grammar, researching, and fact checking. Book editors may also work directly with printers in arranging for proofs and with artists and designers in arranging for illustrations...

Quick Facts


More

Median Salary

$65,980

More

Employment Prospects

Fair

More

Minimum Education Level

Bachelor's Degree


More

Experience

One to three years' experience


More

Skills

Information Management
img


More

Personality Traits

Creative
img

Earnings

Earnings for book editors vary based on the size of the employer and the types of books it publishes, geographic location, and experience of the editor. In October 2019, Salary.com reported the average salary for editors was $68,757. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that editors who worked for book, newspaper, and magazine publishers earned mean annual salaries of $65,980 in May 2018. For a...

Work Environment

Book editors do most of their work on a computer, either in an office setting or at home. 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 ...

Outlook

Employment opportunities for editors who work for book, newspaper, periodical, and directory publishers is expected to decline through 2028, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The number of traditional editing jobs at print publishers is declining as the industry consolidates and increasingly focuses on digital-only publishing. Although some job growth is expected for editors in o...