How to hire a production editor

How to hire a production editor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step production editor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a production editor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new production editor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a production editor do?

Post a production editor job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the production editor you need to hire. Certain production editor roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect production editor also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents production editor salaries for various positions.

   Type of Production Editor	Description	Hourly rate
   Production Editor	Editors plan, review, and revise content for publication.	$19-32
   Journalist	A journalist is responsible for creating written correspondence, covering various subjects as the management requires. This task involves a lot of research investigations, conducting interviews, and gathering reliable sources to verify the authenticity of data before releasing the articles on news portals and other social platforms... Show more	$18-45
   Reporter	In journalism, a reporter is responsible for relaying truthful and reliable information to the public audience through various mediums such as print and media. A reporter must ensure to gather necessary and factual data that are supported by interviews and comments of those involved, remain unbiased in all aspects, produce a concise and comprehensive informational material within an allotted time, and efficiently coordinate with every staff... Show more	$13-35

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Proofreading
   • Editorial Production
   • Production Process
   • Production Schedules
   • Fiction
   • Adobe Indesign
   • Typesetting
   • Copywriting
   • Media Management
   • HTML
   • XML
   • Color Correction
   • Book Production
   • Content Management System

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Assume full editorial responsibility when editor are unavailable, including managing social media accounts and assigning content to freelancers and photographers.
   • Update online versions of books using UNIX, HTML, and XML technologies.

   More production editor duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, production editors' average salary in mississippi is 51% less than in connecticut.
   • Seniority. Entry-level production editors 40% less than senior-level production editors.
   • Certifications. A production 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 a production editor's salary.

   Average production editor salary

   $53,275yearly

   $25.61 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level production editor salary

   $41,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average production editor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Connecticut	$65,236	$31
   2	District of Columbia	$64,835	$31
   3	New York	$64,560	$31
   4	New Hampshire	$62,226	$30
   5	Virginia	$57,852	$28
   6	Illinois	$56,730	$27
   7	New Jersey	$56,546	$27
   8	California	$53,459	$26
   9	Pennsylvania	$52,310	$25
   10	Colorado	$52,009	$25
   11	Massachusetts	$51,858	$25
   12	Delaware	$51,470	$25
   13	Michigan	$50,703	$24
   14	Ohio	$50,284	$24
   15	Georgia	$49,644	$24
   16	North Carolina	$48,827	$23
   17	Texas	$48,406	$23
   18	Arkansas	$48,158	$23
   19	Maryland	$47,335	$23
   20	Arizona	$46,405	$22

   Average production editor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Robert A.M. Stern Architects	$65,783	$31.63
   2	Deloitte	$65,364	$31.43
   3	FiscalNote	$62,798	$30.19	5
   4	American Health Information	$61,845	$29.73
   5	American Public Health Association	$59,771	$28.74
   6	FloSports	$56,162	$27.00	3
   7	EMCOR Group	$56,072	$26.96
   8	Pearson	$55,886	$26.87	3
   9	Hachette Book Group	$55,701	$26.78	10
   10	PitchBook Data	$55,319	$26.60
   11	Alaka`ina Foundation Family Of Companies	$55,244	$26.56	1
   12	Zearn	$55,124	$26.50
   13	Gunpowder & Sky	$54,471	$26.19
   14	Wolters Kluwer	$53,969	$25.95	97
   15	Scholastic	$52,714	$25.34	12
   16	Ryman Hospitality Properties	$52,338	$25.16
   17	Kalmbach Media	$50,997	$24.52	2
   18	The Walt Disney Company	$50,765	$24.41	67
   19	ZERO POINT ZERO	$50,028	$24.05
   20	Artnet	$49,514	$23.80

4. Writing a production editor job description

   A production 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 a production editor job description:

   Production editor job description example

   THIS POSITION CAN BE HYBRID IN NAPERVILLE, ILLINOIS OR REMOTE IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: IL, NJ, NY, AZ, CT, TN, TX, WI, MD, and MN.
   
   We are seeking a Production Editor with a strong understanding of book making and project management to join our Children's book editorial production team. You'll be part of an agile content delivery team that focuses on bringing over 500 books to market every year, specifically working on a variety of children's and young reader imprints and titles.
   In this role you will:
   
   Act as the central information hub for all assigned projects across a number of our children's imprints. You will own the workflow, the schedules, the processes, and the outcomes. Review all manuscripts and artwork associated with a variety of award-winning and bestselling books and projects and manage them through the creative process. Manage tactical schedules and day-to-day project work from concept to books to printer. Ensure projects are produced on schedule and error free. Tracking content development, design, editorial and author approvals, and manufacturing schedules. Liaise with editorial, marketing, and the manufacturing teams regarding schedules and select requests and questions. What we're looking for: BA in Communication, Marketing, Journalism, Art, or related course of study. 3+ years of book publishing experience or experience in a related field
   
   Interest and experience with children's books
   
   Knowledge of illustration process Knowledge of the Chicago Manual of Style Superb attention to detail Ability to multitask, meet deadlines, work under pressure, and handle shifting priorities Strong communication and time management skills Positive, solution- based, team-player attitude A book lover! - you share our deep and abiding belief that Books.Change.Lives. A Plus: Publishing Project management experience What you'll get:
   
   Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, 401(k)
   
   Flexible, hybrid work schedule with paid time off between Christmas and New Year's
   
   You'll be challenged and given many opportunities to learn and grow your career at Sourcebooks.
   
   Books! No matter your job, you're around books and book people all day.
   
   Books change lives and by working with us you will be impacting millions of lives for the better and leaving your stamp on the world. Sourcebooks is recognized as an innovator in the publishing space and that is driven by our team. Everyone has the opportunity to contribute and collaborate, both within their role and beyond, whether it's ideas, time, or feedback, you can make your voice heard. Our culture is driven by energetic thinkers who possess leadership qualities and the desire for personal growth. If you possess these qualities, come grow with us! Sourcebooks, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right production editor for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your production editor job on Zippia to find and recruit production editor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as problogger, media bistro, journalismjobs.com, content writing jobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit production editors, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 production editor

   Once you've selected the best production editor candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new production editor. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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 a production editor?