How to hire an executive editor

How to hire an executive editor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step executive 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 executive editor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new executive editor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an executive editor do?

Post an executive editor job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an executive editor, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   An executive editor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, executive editors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

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

   Type of Executive Editor	Description	Hourly rate
   Executive Editor	Editors plan, review, and revise content for publication.	$20-133
   Editing Internship	An editorial intern is responsible for assisting the editorial department of an organization with publishing various media and digital content. Editorial interns shadow tenured editorial staff on researching stories, validating information, writing captivating articles, interviewing target audiences, and screening submitted manuscripts... Show more	$12-21
   Editorial Internship	An editorial intern is responsible for assisting the editorial team in publishing digital and media content, writing articles, and managing readers' reviews. Editorial interns must have excellent knowledge of the industry they work for, suggesting the latest trends and featured topics, taking notes of the tenured employees' advice and observations, and actively joining brainstorming sessions... Show more	$12-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Editorial Content
   • Editorial Calendar
   • Digital Content
   • SEO
   • Editor-In-Chief
   • Content Strategy
   • Content Development
   • Magazines
   • Instagram
   • Content Creation
   • Photo Shoots
   • Editorial Process
   • Graphic Design
   • Staff Editors

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead effort to publish works of fiction (Alfaguara imprint).
   • Manage content using CMS tools and ongoing social media campaign and reader engagement via social media networks and blog.
   • Acquire established writers and introduce new voices in genre fiction.
   • Leverage meticulous attention to detail in technical editing and proofreading all content from project inception to completion.
   • Analyze FrameMaker source document and provide feedback to XML architects to improve accuracy of conversion.

   More executive editor duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, executive editors' average salary in alaska is 74% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level executive editors 85% less than senior-level executive editors.
   • Certifications. An executive 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 executive editor's salary.

   Average executive editor salary

   $110,541yearly

   $53.14 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level executive editor salary

   $43,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average executive editor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$154,379	$74
   2	District of Columbia	$135,548	$65
   3	Massachusetts	$118,856	$57
   4	Maine	$115,893	$56
   5	Illinois	$98,125	$47
   6	Georgia	$86,099	$41
   7	California	$84,352	$41
   8	Alaska	$34,441	$17

   Average executive editor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	American Media	$158,762	$76.33
   2	Condé Nast	$158,059	$75.99	10
   3	Penske Media	$154,267	$74.17	7
   4	The Walt Disney Company	$148,401	$71.35	81
   5	Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory	$135,335	$65.06
   6	McGraw Hill	$132,918	$63.90
   7	Accenture	$128,254	$61.66	107
   8	Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia	$123,805	$59.52
   9	Chicago Public Media	$115,811	$55.68	2
   10	University of Illinois Springfield	$111,436	$53.58
   11	Newsmax Media, Inc.	$95,047	$45.70	1
   12	International Data Group	$91,726	$44.10
   13	Diversified Communications	$88,903	$42.74
   14	Scholastic	$88,069	$42.34	28
   15	WSN	$64,417	$30.97
   16	Own The Room	$53,872	$25.90
   17	McClatchy	$36,190	$17.40	16
   18	University of Alaska	$32,591	$15.67	6
   19	Lee Enterprises	$31,272	$15.03	39
   20	Barnes & Noble	$29,620	$14.24

4. Writing an executive editor job description

   An executive 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 executive editor job description:

   Executive editor job description example

   Taylor & Francis Group, a leading international academic publisher, is currently recruiting for an Executive Editor to join a team managing original research journals within the Medicine and Health Journals sector.
   
   This role will be responsible for managing the journals Postgraduate Medicine and Hospital Practice, a portfolio of highly respected, MEDLINE-indexed, peer-reviewed, international journals that publish a select variety of original research. focuses on clinical research that supports primary care physicians in improving patient care, while publishes specialised research on the latest in-hospital procedures and protocols.
   
   This position is ideal for an individual looking for a varied role, guiding the growth of these titles that are in different stages of development, each with distinct needs and communities. We are looking for a candidate that can easily communicate with authors and other journal stakeholders, critically evaluate submitted research throughout the publication process, and collaborate across teams to creatively experiment with new journal initiatives and services.
   What you'll be doing:
   
   Drives new, high-quality original research submissions and commissions articles that represent the latest medical research
   
   Develops journal development plans that evaluate industry trends, competitors, and journal content to identify both short- and long-term objectives and opportunities
   
   Evaluates submitted manuscripts and peer-reviewed papers to make decisions on what content can be considered for publication, as well as identify and address any ethical issues that arise
   
   Collaborates on internal projects to develop subject expertise, accelerate open access growth, improve processes and implement new technology, and increase industry outreach
   
   Builds author, society, and industry relationships through one-on-one communication and editor-in-chief and editorial board member interaction, with the opportunity to present publishing workshops and conference sessions that educate the research community
   
   Keeps abreast of industry news and trends to determine their effect on journal objectives and strategic decisions; includes attending relevant conferences and becoming involved with industry initiatives/projects
   
   Works with marketing and press & media teams to develop campaigns that drive journal submissions and highlight Taylor & Francis editorial services and resources via a multimedia approach
   
   Maintains social media presence that interacts with authors, researchers, and other industry representatives and shares journal content, industry news, and information on best practices in publishing
   
   Ensures continuing journal and product development by monitoring and improving journal metrics and online content usage, identifying new opportunities for indexing, and troubleshooting problems
   
   Acts as a product champion with internal stakeholders to ensure buy-in and support for the journal across other departments.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find executive editors for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your executive editor job on Zippia to find and recruit executive editor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit executive 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates 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 executive editor

   Once you have selected a candidate for the executive 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new executive editor first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire an executive editor?