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Job outlook for index editors in the United States
Are index editor jobs in demand?
Index editor job and salary trends over time
Index editor jobs over time
Index editor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 21 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 22 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 23 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 23 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 23 | 0.00% |
Average index editor salary over time
Index editor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $55,790 | $26.82 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $54,003 | $25.96 | +3.2% |
| 2023 | $52,340 | $25.16 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $51,715 | $24.86 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $50,343 | $24.20 | +2.1% |
Index editor jobs by state
Most common states for index editors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 87 | 13% |
| 2 | New York | 19,849,399 | 410 | 2% |
| 3 | California | 39,536,653 | 248 | 1% |
| 4 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 110 | 1% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 77 | 1% |
| 6 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 53 | 1% |
| 7 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 48 | 1% |
| 8 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 43 | 1% |
| 9 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 36 | 1% |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 30 | 1% |
| 11 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 20 | 1% |
| 12 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 11 | 1% |
| 13 | Alaska | 739,795 | 10 | 1% |
| 14 | Delaware | 961,939 | 9 | 1% |
| 15 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 9 | 1% |
| 16 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 7 | 1% |
| 17 | Vermont | 623,657 | 4 | 1% |
| 18 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 4 | 1% |
| 19 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 63 | 0% |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 57 | 0% |
Index Editor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of index editor experts
California University of Pennsylvania
University of Minnesota
What type of skills will young Index Editors 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.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Index Editors?
Thomas Reynolds: Technology is constantly changing, and the pandemic has put a wrinkle on innovations that will have an impact on the field of TWC. Yet technical writing and communication have always involved changing technologies -- it is one of the hallmarks of the field. In addition, remote work is common in technical communication, and many scholars have written about the phenomenon, including global virtual teams and distributed workplaces. In any case, technical writers and communicators learn to think about the intersection of technology with the audience.
I think that traditional notions of communicationm such as establishing a friendly, businesslike ethos and considering the very real material circumstances of audiences, will remain uppermost as graduates adapt to the technological changes. Part of this work will also involve recognizing and working to improve social injustices that employers are increasingly in need of addressing. New technologies that emerge will also be part of the landscape for graduates, and they will be eager to learn these new tools.