How to hire an Editor

How to hire an editor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step editor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an editor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new editor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an Editor do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the editor you need to hire. Certain editor roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine Employee vs Contractor Status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect editor also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of editor salaries for various roles:

   Type Of Editor	Description	Hourly Rate
   Editor	Editors plan, review, and revise content for publication.	$16-37
   Freelance Videographer/Editor	A freelance videographer/editor is responsible for processing and editing video contents, usually on a project basis. Freelance videographer/editors create their footage using their shooting equipment, utilize various design and editing software, and finish the project based on the clients' specifications and deliverables... Show More	$16-32
   Technical Writer And Editor	A technical writer and editor is primarily responsible for producing written content that defines and explains technical concepts to inform and educate readers. As a writer, it is essential to research and fact-check details to ensure the material's accuracy and value... Show More	$24-39

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common Skills:

   • Web Content
   • Video Content
   • SEO
   • Facebook
   • Editor-In-Chief
   • Twitter
   • PowerPoint
   • Edit Articles
   • Adobe Indesign
   • Instagram
   • News Stories
   • Google Analytics
   • Press Releases
   • Adobe Photoshop

   Check All Skills

   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.
   • Develop SEO strategies to increase profitability and manage social media to spread brand awareness and bolster readership.
   • Manage international man-made fiber market research/publishing company and supervise editorial content and sales of industry statistical journal.

   More Editor duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your editor job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An editor can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, editors' average salary in mississippi is 56% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level editors 56% less than senior-level editors.
   • Certifications. An editor with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an editor's salary.

   Average editor salary

   $52,107yearly

   $25.05 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level editor salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated April 18, 2025

   Average editor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. Salary	Hourly Rate
   1	District of Columbia	$69,031	$33
   2	New York	$67,606	$33
   3	Massachusetts	$62,629	$30
   4	Virginia	$62,453	$30
   5	Washington	$61,394	$30
   6	California	$56,934	$27
   7	Maryland	$53,688	$26
   8	Georgia	$52,261	$25
   9	Colorado	$50,377	$24
   10	Pennsylvania	$49,960	$24
   11	Illinois	$49,549	$24
   12	Minnesota	$48,757	$23
   13	Hawaii	$42,753	$21
   14	Texas	$40,275	$19
   15	Florida	$38,343	$18
   16	Utah	$36,342	$17

   Average editor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Openings
   1	Microsoft	$109,349	$52.57	2
   2	Apple	$108,035	$51.94	9
   3	Google	$104,645	$50.31	3
   4	Moody's	$99,748	$47.96
   5	Goldman Sachs	$99,191	$47.69	1
   6	Partners Group LTD	$94,727	$45.54
   7	Amazon	$90,802	$43.65	85
   8	Bloomberg	$89,301	$42.93	20
   9	Altice USA	$89,210	$42.89	8
   10	The New York Times Company	$87,740	$42.18	26
   11	Yahoo	$84,806	$40.77	3
   12	Square	$84,074	$40.42
   13	Law360	$82,751	$39.78	1
   14	The Washington Post	$81,523	$39.19	13
   15	Tripadvisor	$80,591	$38.75
   16	The Economist Newspaper Group	$80,350	$38.63
   17	John Wiley & Sons	$78,996	$37.98
   18	Thomson Reuters	$78,579	$37.78	22
   19	MDRC	$78,299	$37.64
   20	Lincoln Memorial University	$77,091	$37.06

4. Writing an Editor Job Description

   An editor job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an editor job description:

   Editor job description example

   Application Instructions
   
   Please list all professional experience and explain any gaps in employment history. All of your application materials, which may include PDF files of work samples and/or links to audio, video, photography or graphics, must be uploaded to the field labeled Resume/Cover Letter/Work Samples to be considered for the position.
   
   Job Description
   
   Job Duties:
   Partner with editors and reporters across the newsroom to ensure that The Post is positioned to reach new audiences; serve as a consultant and advocate for experimentation; and train editors, producers and reporters. Cultivate subscriber growth opportunities tied to individual projects or stories; manage projects and collaborate with Product and Analytics; and use audience engagement practices such as social callouts and submission forms to generate story ideas and reveal opportunities for new lines of coverage.
   
   Job Requirements:
   Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and 3 years of experience as an audience editor (or assistant audience editor) at a journalistic publication OR Master's Degree in Journalism and 1 year of experience in the same. Also required: 1 year of experience in each of the following: moderating online communities; tracking and analyzing metrics and parsing data; corresponding directly with readers; and developing and maintaining strategies to strengthen the relationship with audiences. All experience can be concurrent. Telecommuting from the DC metro area is permissible with a hybrid in-person/remote model.
   
   To apply, send resume to Sara Mogilski, Attn: ASEE, WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post, 1301 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20071.
   
   The Post strives to provide its readers with high-quality, trustworthy news and information while constantly innovating. That mission is best served by a diverse, multi-generational workforce with varied life experiences and perspectives. All cultures and backgrounds are welcomed.
   
   Ever wondered if what you are doing will Impact Tomorrow? At The Washington Post, every employee shapes the way we deliver the news. Find the career that's right for you
   #washpostlife

   Copy This Example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right editor for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with editors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit editors who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your editor job on Zippia to find and recruit editor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as problogger, media bistro, journalismjobs.com, content writing jobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit editors, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new editor

   Once you have selected a candidate for the editor position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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