How To Become A Copy Editor And Staff Writer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a copy editor and staff writer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Cathy Irwin Ph.D.

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a copy editor and staff writer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $30.43 an hour? That's $63,302 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -5% and produce -5,500 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a copy editor and staff writer?

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.

ScoreCopy Editor And Staff WriterUS Average

Salary

4.9

Avg. Salary $63,302

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 3.56%

Hispanic or Latino 8.07%

Unknown 4.58%

White 76.31%

Gender

female 58.33%

male 41.67%

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

Key steps to become a copy editor and staff writer

Explore copy editor and staff writer education requirements

Most common copy editor and staff writer degrees

Bachelor's

87.9 %

Associate

6.4 %

Master's

4.0 %

Start to develop specific copy editor and staff writer skills

Skills	Percentages
Adobe Indesign	14.28%
News Articles	12.02%
Staff Writers	10.62%
Feature Stories	9.55%
Editor-In-Chief	8.46%

Complete relevant copy editor and staff writer training and internships

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

Research copy editor and staff writer duties and responsibilities

Manage copy editing and proofreading responsibilities of weekly business newspaper and special supplements.
Optimize marketing site UX/UI and SEO.
Edit articles and page designs; collaborate with editor-in-chief to create 2010-11 yearbook
Provide strategic creative concepts, copywriting, technical writing and cost-effective digital media production services on a per-project outsource basis.

Prepare your copy editor and staff writer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your copy editor and staff writer 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 a copy editor and staff writer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable copy editor and staff writer resume templates

Build a professional copy editor and staff writer 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 copy editor and staff writer resume.