What is a managing editor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Bradley Shreve

A managing editor is an individual responsible for overseeing the editorial operations of a publication or media outlet, ensuring that content is produced on time, meets quality standards, and adheres to the organization's vision. They manage the editorial team, assign work, collaborate with other departments, and provide feedback to writers and editors. Ultimately, a managing editor plays a critical role in shaping a publication's brand and reputation through effective leadership and management.

What general advice would you give to a managing editor?

Bradley Shreve

Editor, Tribal College Journal

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.

ScoreManaging EditorUS Average

Salary

7.0

Avg. Salary $89,060

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 7.08%

Black or African American 3.51%

Hispanic or Latino 7.91%

Unknown 4.56%

White 76.67%

Gender

female 53.43%

male 46.57%

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

What are the pros and cons of being a managing editor?

Pros

Opportunity to shape the direction of the publication
Ability to work with and mentor writers and other staff members
Chance to build relationships with industry leaders and experts
Potential for career advancement within the publishing industry
Competitive salary and benefits packages

Cons

High stress levels due to tight deadlines and demanding workload
Responsibility for the success or failure of the publication can be overwhelming
Long hours may be required during crunch times
Limited creative freedom due to budget constraints or editorial guidelines
Difficulty balancing competing priorities, such as managing staff, editing content, and meeting business goals

Key steps to become a managing editor

Explore managing editor education requirements

Most common managing editor degrees

Bachelor's

81.1 %

Master's

10.7 %

Associate

4.7 %

Start to develop specific managing editor skills

Skills	Percentages
Web Content	13.11%
Editorial Content	9.94%
SEO	7.01%
Editorial Calendar	5.12%
Digital Content	4.64%

Complete relevant managing editor training and internships

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

Research managing editor duties and responsibilities

Manage programs such as schedule overhaul, YouTube channel creation, and new blog site.
Manage editorial process: assigning stories to line-editing to HTML publishing/page placement.
Manage editorial departments: ensure timely receipt of copy and photos, including coordinating and overseeing all freelance and in-house submissions.
Edit and proofread submissions for weekly publication.

Prepare your managing editor resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your managing editor resume.

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