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Job outlook for editorial assistants in the United States
Editorial assistant job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected editorial assistant job growth rate is -8% from 2018-2028.
About -286,900 new jobs for editorial assistants are projected over the next decade.
Editorial assistant salaries have increased 12% for editorial assistants in the last 5 years.
There are over 12,983 editorial assistants currently employed in the United States.
There are 26,839 active editorial assistant job openings in the US.
The average editorial assistant salary is $43,141.
Are editorial assistant jobs in demand?
Editorial assistant job and salary trends over time
Editorial assistant jobs over time
Editorial assistant job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,983 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 13,346 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 14,318 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 14,864 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 15,322 | 0.00% |
Average editorial assistant salary over time
Editorial assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $43,141 | $20.74 | +3.1% |
| 2025 | $41,853 | $20.12 | +2.9% |
| 2024 | $40,676 | $19.56 | +2.9% |
| 2023 | $39,521 | $19.00 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $38,666 | $18.59 | +2.7% |
Editorial assistant jobs by state
Most common states for editorial assistants
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 113 | 16% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 73 | 10% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 554 | 8% |
| 4 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 80 | 8% |
| 5 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 567 | 7% |
| 6 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 374 | 7% |
| 7 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,194 | 6% |
| 8 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 322 | 6% |
| 9 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 186 | 6% |
| 10 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 114 | 6% |
| 11 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 36 | 6% |
| 12 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 610 | 5% |
| 13 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 349 | 5% |
| 14 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 340 | 5% |
| 15 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 268 | 5% |
| 16 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 205 | 5% |
| 17 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 172 | 5% |
| 18 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 68 | 5% |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 50 | 5% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 30 | 5% |
Most common cities for editorial assistants
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bloomington | 1 | 1% | $44,012 |
| 2 | Boca Raton | 1 | 1% | $39,497 |
| 3 | Cambridge | 1 | 1% | $50,398 |
| 4 | New York | 2 | 0% | $46,469 |
| 5 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $50,404 |
| 6 | Washington | 1 | 0% | $49,648 |
Editorial Assistant job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of editorial assistant experts
California State University - Sacramento
Furman University
Missouri University of Science & Technology
York College of Pennsylvania
Dixie State University
University of Wisconsin - Madison
American Society of Magazine Editors
California University of Pennsylvania
University of Minnesota
Bucknell University
Independence Community College
Ferrum College
Tribal College Journal
Viola Ardeni
Assistant Professor & Italian Language Area HeadCalifornia State University - Sacramento
Romance Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
What general advice would you give to an Editorial Assistant?
Viola Ardeni: To recent graduates in any field, I would recommend making sure they are doing two things: 'Ask questions' and 'Show up.' In the Romance languages, literatures, and linguistics field, asking questions may mean asking for a long of informational interviews, even in places where there are no current jobs openings. You never know what you will learn from talking to someone who is working and has your same degree. Asking questions also means to be present, aware, and critical. Showing up may instead mean trying different things. Besides teaching, there is no clear job following degrees in Romance languages etc. (and even 'teaching' includes a variety of jobs), so taking advantage of different opportunities may come in handy.
What will help Editorial Assistants increase their earning potential?
Viola Ardeni: Negotiate your job offer, even where your position is represented by a labor union (you may negotiate other perks and benefits). I would also recommend considering extremely carefully whether a higher degree in the field (master's or PhD) would enhance your options for a higher salary. The mental, emotional, and financial cost of graduate studies may not make it worth it, if the primary objective is earning more money.
Professor Margaret Oakes
Professor of EnglishFurman University
English Language And Literature
What general advice would you give to an Editorial Assistant?
Professor Margaret Oakes: Understand that you should be looking at a salary mid-career, not right now. And look at the possibility for promotion in your place of work - a small family business will not be able to or be interested in promoting you to a leadership position, so think about if you will need to move up or out.
What will help Editorial Assistants increase their earning potential?
Professor Margaret Oakes: Our graduates have such a variety of careers with an English major that this is hard to answer. But perhaps this is the answer - English majors have such widely applicable skills that they need to be alert to how they can be applied almost anywhere, and be prepared to sell their skills to a potential employer.
Christi Patton Luks
Professor (NTT) and Associate Chair for Academic AffairsMissouri University of Science & Technology
Linda & Bipin Doshi Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering
What's a good job out of college for Editorial Assistants?
Christi Patton Luks: A good job out of college is one that can be adapted to the individual's skills and interests and encourages them to stretch. Frequently, students think they want to work in a particular type of job. Once they have it, they discover that it was not what they thought it would be. Many companies rotate new employees through a variety of positions. Those are great for helping people find their own hidden talents. I know that I have discovered abilities that I would not have even attempted when I was 20.
What's a good job out of college for Editorial Assistants?
Travis Kurowski Ph.D.: There are all sorts of good jobs for writers out of colleges, such as working as a researcher at a non-profit, an editorial assistant at a publishing house, a technical writer at a company, or, as we see more and more, doing social media work and writing website copy for companies large and small. These are all jobs that will use writing graduates' writing and editing skills and research and project management skills that they will have picked up in their coursework and co-curricular activities (such as working on a student newspaper, literary magazine, or in the writing center). Moreover, writing graduates are always excellent value-added in these workplaces as we continue transitioning more and more of our business's resale, marketing, and general communication online. In the busy, sometimes cloudy, media and information environment we live in, transparent, effective communication is more essential than ever.
Dr. Mike Peterson Ph.D.
Department Chair and Associate Professor of EnglishDixie State University
English Department
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Editorial Assistants to find work opportunities?
Dr. Mike Peterson Ph.D.: The great thing about a degree in English is that graduates can find work anywhere: teaching, freelance writing, technical writing, content production, editing, reporting-you name it. There are ample jobs in small towns and large cities in all of these areas. English degrees are also highly valued in a variety of jobs-such as sales, public relations, marketing, and paralegal work-because employers know these applicants, from day one, will have strong skills in writing, communication, critical thinking, and creative thinking.
What type of skills will young Editorial Assistants need?
Patricia Hastings: Young graduates will need a few skills outside of the usual ones for a good journalism job. They will have to be able to interview for jobs via Zoom or whatever system is used. That's a different skill set than being in person. I also believe students will have to work harder to "brand" themselves. Why should someone hire you? Do the resume and work examples say "I am the go to person for getting this done?" Make an elevator pitch for yourself and see how hard it is to do. The usual skills still need to be there-video, social, maybe audio-because that's what it takes today.
I also think graduates needs to be aware of the information that's out there, and be suspicious or know enough to check for accuracy. If a photo is digitally manipulated, will you know? How can you tell? In my opinion, this is maybe the biggest skill needed. What is balanced and researched as to what is created to satisfy some agenda? This has and will continue to be an area to watch.
What general advice would you give to an Editorial Assistant?
Sidney Holt: The biggest challenge facing editorial hopefuls is uncertainty. Magazines and websites were already experiencing unprecedented challenges as the consumption of media changed and publishers shifted from advertising-supported to reader-supported business models. The pandemic only accelerated those trends. For new graduates, that means fewer opportunities to work for established brands (and where those opportunities do exist, it means working remotely, at least for the foreseeable future, which in turn means fewer opportunities to enjoy the kind of one-on-one training that furthered the careers of previous generations of writers and editors).
That's the downside. The upside is that the skills and energy young journalists can bring to a media organization are especially valuable during a period of extraordinary change. But you have to be prepared to be resilient. Not only is "the gold watch after 50 years" gone; you have expect you won't be in any job very long, at least in the early years of your career.
What type of skills will young Editorial Assistants need?
Dr. Christina Fisanick: College graduates in 2021 and beyond, need all of the skills that English programs have to offer: critical thinking, effective communication, creativity, and flexibility. New hires need to be able to adapt to workplace changes quickly and with aplomb, which requires critical thinking and problem solving and the ability to communicate those solutions to a diverse audience clearly and effectively. Those skills are refined and practiced regularly in English programs.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Editorial Assistants to find work opportunities?
Dr. Christina Fisanick: Although employers prior to COVID-19 knew that remote work was not only possible, but in some cases even more productive than in the traditional workplace, the pandemic has reinforced the idea that employees can work from anywhere in the world. While this gives graduates the potential to work globally in a way that was never possible before, it also means that English majors in the US are now competing in a worldwide marketplace against graduates from universities, not just in their region or country, but from around the globe. It is both exciting and intimidating, and we must prepare our graduates to meet the demands of this ever-expanding job market.
What general advice would you give to an Editorial Assistant?
Thomas Reynolds: I think there will be a lasting impact of this pandemic on graduates. The nature of the field is that others in the industry (scientists, engineers, for ex.) often take on tech writing and communication tasks in tight economic conditions, or even just as a matter of a particular culture in a particular business. However, the field of technical communication has been predicted to have a strong future (see Bureau of Labor Statistics, which predicts growth in jobs in this field).
Technical writing and communication require that students are comfortable with technology and communication and that they adapt to changing situations. I think there are also opportunities for savvy graduates who can offer certain skills and experiences that are unique to the changing situation. This field has a long history of resilience for its graduates seeking jobs in tough circumstances.
Sarah Bell
Senior Associate Director, CounselingBucknell University
Center for Career Advancement
How do you envision technology impacting Editorial Assistants in the next 5 years?
Sarah Bell: As mentioned in #2, English majors go into many fields, and technology is affecting most of them now. We will likely always need creators, editors, and researchers of content, which will certainly make English majors useful in a variety of fields, due to (or in spite of) the technology advances. Experience in learning and utilizing a variety of software, platforms, and social media tools will only enhance their ability to complete their work in an effective and efficient manner in a variety of work settings.
Bridget Carson
Associate Professor of Developmental EnglishIndependence Community College
History
What general advice would you give to an Editorial Assistant?
Bridget Carson: Show up. Listen and keep learning. Be a part of the broader community.
I know these seem simple, but they require time. It isn't just about the hours on the clock, although they are that for which you are paid. Go to the meet and greet. Chip into the water cooler fund. Join a softball league, a book club, or a game night. When somebody invites you to a company picnic - go. Join the volunteer opportunities in which the organization participates. Relationships need nurturing so that you can have empathy and resilience during difficult discussions within an organization or when it needs to pull together and get through something.
Our shiny new degrees are just the beginning of what we know. You'll be stepping into situations where people will need your fresh perspective, and you will need their experience. Keep reading, not just things in your content area. This isn't just a "respect your elders" or "know your place" statement. They don't know everything, and neither do you, but they've been there longer.
Be a visible part of the broader community. This is especially important if you choose to work in the Public Sector where people want to see their tax dollars pay people who are invested in their community. Go to the concerts in the park, the local community theater, the parades. Join some organization and chip in. Work the polls, join the park committee, be active in a philanthropic or faith community, show up for events celebrating local history. Support local businesses where you find them in alignment with your values.
Don't do any of this for the show. People can spot a fake-Esse quad videre: to be rather than to seem.
What general advice would you give to an Editorial Assistant?
Allison Harl Ph.D.: Develop as many multimedia skills as possible. Writing in the 21st century is about visual rhetoric as well as just words on a page.
What general advice would you give to an Editorial Assistant?
Bradley Shreve: Be flexible. An undergraduate degree in history offers a solid liberal arts background, but not a skill set that is finely tuned for most jobs. Think outside the box, and understand that the job you land probably won't be in the history profession.