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What is a production editor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted Expert
Bradley Shreve
introduction image

Production editors manage and review publication material for various media formats. They oversee the process of putting out a publication, including proofreading, selecting and editing content, overseeing the creation of layout, arranging budgets, and making sure projects are finished by their deadlines.

As a production editor, you will be working in a fast-paced and creative environment. As is often the case with creative jobs, your working hours are flexible, but putting in extra hours is to be expected as deadlines are approaching.

You might be self-employed and work for various clients on a project basis, or you might be employed by a magazine, newspaper, or other media outlet as the leader of the editorial staff. Job opportunities are slightly decreasing due to the decline of printed media, but if you do find a job, you can expect to make around $69,480 a year.

What general advice would you give to a Production Editor?

Bradley ShreveBradley Shreve LinkedIn Profile

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.
ScoreProduction EditorUS Average
Salary
4.2

Avg. Salary $53,275

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 7.23%

Black or African American 3.58%

Hispanic or Latino 8.10%

Unknown 4.58%

White 76.24%

Gender

female 58.37%

male 41.63%

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

Production Editor career paths

Key steps to become a production editor

  1. Explore production editor education requirements

    Most common production editor degrees

    Bachelor's

    81.9 %

    Master's

    8.8 %

    Associate

    5.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific production editor skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Proofreading14.87%
    Editorial Production8.77%
    Production Process8.53%
    Production Schedules5.11%
    Fiction4.25%
  3. Complete relevant production editor training and internships

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

    • Manage integration and implementation of site search and train staff on strategic SEO and web best practices.
    • Manage research and identification of all clips and pictures used in the documentary for the purpose of credit and compensation.
    • Typeset editorial content and manage paste-up board production.
    • Boost usability by managing content migration to iApps, leading maintenance & data/functionality QA.
  5. Prepare your production editor resume

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

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a production editor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Production Editor Resume templates

    Build a professional Production Editor resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Production Editor resume.
    Production Editor Resume
    Production Editor Resume
    Production Editor Resume
    Production Editor Resume
    Production Editor Resume
    Production Editor Resume
    Production Editor Resume
    Production Editor Resume
    Production Editor Resume
  6. Apply for production editor jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a production editor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Production Editor Job

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Are you a Production Editor?

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Average production editor salary

The average Production Editor salary in the United States is $53,275 per year or $26 per hour. Production editor salaries range between $41,000 and $68,000 per year.

Average Production Editor Salary
$53,275 Yearly
$25.61 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do production editors rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Production Editor reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020
Cons

It gets boring when you are doing it long enough.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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