Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for production editors in the United States
Are production editor jobs in demand?
Production editor job and salary trends over time
Production editor jobs over time
Production editor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 893 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 939 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 965 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 963 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 974 | 0.00% |
Average production editor salary over time
Production editor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $53,275 | $25.61 | +3.3% |
| 2025 | $51,569 | $24.79 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $49,981 | $24.03 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $49,384 | $23.74 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $48,073 | $23.11 | +2.1% |
Production editor jobs by state
Most common states for production editors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 245 | 35% |
| 2 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 512 | 16% |
| 3 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 825 | 15% |
| 4 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 819 | 14% |
| 5 | Vermont | 623,657 | 87 | 14% |
| 6 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 866 | 13% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 541 | 13% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 177 | 13% |
| 9 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 514 | 12% |
| 10 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 371 | 12% |
| 11 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 236 | 12% |
| 12 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 1,298 | 11% |
| 13 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 902 | 11% |
| 14 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 784 | 11% |
| 15 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 638 | 11% |
| 16 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 326 | 11% |
| 17 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 142 | 11% |
| 18 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,294 | 10% |
| 19 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 624 | 10% |
| 20 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 78 | 10% |
Production Editor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of production editor experts
Belmont University
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Midland College
University of New Mexico
Buffalo State College
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Luther College
The University of Kentucky
American Society of Magazine Editors
California University of Pennsylvania
Cal Poly
University of California
Ferrum College
Tribal College Journal
East-West University
Rider University
What general advice would you give to a Production Editor?
Sara Wigal M.A.: Listen up. Sitting in on meetings where you aren't working is a learning experience and way to better understand everyone else's tasks and how the company works. It's great ammunition for asking considerate questions, which help you learn and also help you put a good foot forward in earning respect from more senior colleagues. Also, read widely, and if you're not a non-fiction reader, try to read a little bit of that too! Self-help, business books, even topical reading can help you grow (and makes you a much more interesting person to talk to). Don't stress reading all the "big books" but rather develop your personal taste while keeping general tabs on what is happening in the literary world.
What Production Editor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Sara Wigal M.A.: Most entry-level salaries in publishing are non-negotiable-they're based on hardline budgets. If you are looking for wiggle room for that first job in terms of compensation, you should ask, but be prepared to instead look to the benefits package for ensuring you receive the maximum. After 1-2 years you should be able to negotiate a wage increase. This is a bit different from some other entertainment industries, but I don't see it changing particularly soon for most publishing companies. Most people in publishing have a great skill set they can use to freelance even at an earlier stage in their career if they need to.
What will help Production Editors increase their earning potential?
Sara Wigal M.A.: Even as we experience a second digital revolution, many of the same skills that publishing professionals have used for decades are pertinent. Developmental editing or keen and creative marketing management have been skills that carry many people through their careers, and that won't change. Being an excellent communicator in both written word (hello, email) and in person is also a way to set yourself apart from your peers, and that's nothing new. Having a growth mindset is vital (and sometimes hard to do, but worth it). Understanding how to collect, analyze and disseminate data is becoming more important in publishing and is requisite in marketing positions. For those who want to work in social media, video production skills are key.
Natalie Becerra
Career Development SpecialistUniversity of Nebraska - Lincoln
Journalism
What Production Editor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Natalie Becerra: I think some very important skills that will be important to have are resourcefulness and research skills. Especially in the journalism and media industries everything is very trend driven. That means people need to have better research-backed strategies if they want to see long-term, sustainable success. It will be hard to just rely on clickbait and bandwagoning forever, so people should sharpen their research skills and foster a sense of curiosity and resourcefulness to dig deeper and find information for themselves.
Stacey Hewitt
Communications CoordinatorMidland College
What skills stand out on Production Editor resumes?
Stacey Hewitt: The skill that stands out on Multimedia Journalist's resume is the ability to wear many hats/handle multiple responsibilities. Gone are the days where TV news reporters had photogs that took the video for them, and they just asked the questions. Journalists are doing everything all by themselves. I'm talking - you are responsible for coming up with your own story ideas/pitches, going live on Facebook before news shows, editing a story for news shows, cutting a different version for the web, and maybe even writing a print version for a newspaper partner. Showcase all your experiences, especially web and video editing experience, as everything is becoming more visual on video platforms. Even if you aren't responsible for web or editing in your current job, try to dabble in it so you can put it on your resume. Or go back to school and take a class in video and video editing.
Kate Cunningham
Multimedia communication instructorUniversity of New Mexico
Department of Communication and Journalism
What skills will help Production Editors earn the most?
Kate Cunningham: In some cases, more specialized skills like website development or data science can be useful toward earning more. Some newsrooms offer bilingual bonuses for staff with fluency in other languages.
Leadership ability and positions in management also could lead to higher salaries within the field.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Production Editors?
Annemarie Franczyk: Journalists increasingly will need to produce content across a variety of platforms, and because they might be working remotely, they will need to have great facilities with all aspects of devices, apps, editing software, and the like.
Dr. Anthony Cuda Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Associate HeadUniversity of North Carolina at Greensboro
Department of English
What Production Editor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Anthony Cuda Ph.D.: I think graduates should always find ways to offer their services to professional organizations-nonprofits, small businesses, even larger firms. If graduates can get a foot in the door with a professional organization-paid or unpaid-and work to hone their writing and communicating skills, they'll be well positioned to pursue a variety of alternative career paths.
What type of skills will young Production Editors need?
David Faldet: Those college years of reading, writing, and discussing literature mean English majors have three skills business leaders want: creativity, the ability to communicate well, and the empathy that can set a person or a business apart. Creativity is crucial in a time of change such as this one, and as employers look to transform their business model. Good communication is basic within a business and in reaching out to the market. Empathy is there to make sure communication matters and reaches a receptive audience.
Jeff Rice Ph.D.
Professor, ChairThe University of Kentucky
Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies
What skills stand out on Production Editor resumes?
Jeff Rice Ph.D.: Research skills. Written and digital communication skills. Knowledge of digital tools - whether Adobe products, podcasting software, and such - but also how to use the tools to reach audiences, create sticky content, develop brands, send information, persuade, and inform. It's one thing to know how to create a movie or poster or infographic or report or Instagram post; it's another thing to have the rhetorical and writing skills to properly use that tool to create information for a specific audience.
What general advice would you give to a Production Editor?
Sidney Holt: The biggest challenge facing editorial hopefuls is uncertainty. Magazines and websites were already experiencing unprecedented challenges as the consumption of media changed and publishers shifted from advertising-supported to reader-supported business models. The pandemic only accelerated those trends. For new graduates, that means fewer opportunities to work for established brands (and where those opportunities do exist, it means working remotely, at least for the foreseeable future, which in turn means fewer opportunities to enjoy the kind of one-on-one training that furthered the careers of previous generations of writers and editors).
That's the downside. The upside is that the skills and energy young journalists can bring to a media organization are especially valuable during a period of extraordinary change. But you have to be prepared to be resilient. Not only is "the gold watch after 50 years" gone; you have expect you won't be in any job very long, at least in the early years of your career.
What type of skills will young Production 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.
How do you envision technology impacting Production Editors in the next 5 years?
Eileen Buecher: Technology is impacting all career fields with knowledge of various communication and business platforms, social media, and ways to network online in the future.
Catherine Nesci
Professor of French & Comparative Literature; Affiliate in Feminist StudiesUniversity of California
Department of French and Italian
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Production Editors to find work opportunities?
Catherine Nesci: The French, Italian, and Portuguese opportunities are diminishing and will continue doing so, despite the importance of French in a continent like Africa. Yet, Spanish will continue being more prominent, but online teaching will decrease job prospects.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Production Editors?
Allison Harl Ph.D.: Yes, but the pandemic's impact will create new and different opportunities, so graduates should keep their imaginations and options open.
What general advice would you give to a Production Editor?
Bradley Shreve: 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.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Production Editors in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Maria Polski Ph.D.: There is no technology more important than the human mind. Ability to think independently, to evaluate, to defer judgment, to investigate the origin of information will be practiced in a variety of technologies. Students and new graduates should be aiming to develop these abilities, regardless of which technology they use! The ability to evaluate the quality of information is, probably, the most important of them all.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Production Editors in the next 3-5 years?
Aaron Moore Ph.D.: Any journalist must be adept and have strong digital editing skills. There are many platforms like Final Cut, for example - the platform doesn't matter - the ability of digital editing is a must.