How to hire a writer and editor

How to hire a writer and editor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step writer and 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 writer and editor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new writer and editor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a writer and editor do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a writer and editor, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A writer and editor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, writer and editors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of writer and editors and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Writer And Editor	Description	Hourly rate
   Writer And Editor	Editors plan, review, and revise content for publication.	$17-49
   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
   Editing Internship	An editorial intern is responsible for assisting the editorial department of an organization with publishing various media and digital content. Editorial interns shadow tenured editorial staff on researching stories, validating information, writing captivating articles, interviewing target audiences, and screening submitted manuscripts... Show more	$12-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Web Content
   • Blog Posts
   • Press Releases
   • Writing Articles
   • Feature Stories
   • Photography
   • News Stories
   • Twitter
   • Fiction
   • Subject Matter Experts
   • Conduct Interviews
   • PowerPoint
   • Edit Content
   • News Articles

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Update website daily, manage Facebook/Twitter/ Instagram accounts.
   • Create articles featuring campus faculty and students, as well as lifestyle tips, and opinion editorials.
   • Work closely with magazine's editor-in-chief to hash out design ideas and content.
   • Gain 9k twitter followers in four months, and create a consistent fan base.
   • Assign stories to writers, edit them with SEO in mind, then post to proprietary CMS.
   • Pitch, write, and publish full length book/news relate articles-Edit and format images, SEO, HTML formatting

   More writer and editor duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your writer and editor job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A writer and editor salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a writer and editor in Missouri may be lower than in Connecticut, and an entry-level writer and editor usually earns less than a senior-level writer and editor. Additionally, a writer and editor with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average writer and editor salary

   $61,482yearly

   $29.56 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level writer and editor salary

   $36,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average writer and editor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	District of Columbia	$100,149	$48
   2	New Jersey	$82,644	$40
   3	Virginia	$82,611	$40
   4	New York	$78,545	$38
   5	Washington	$72,083	$35
   6	Massachusetts	$72,042	$35
   7	Illinois	$71,094	$34
   8	California	$70,626	$34
   9	Maryland	$68,918	$33
   10	Maine	$67,211	$32
   11	Pennsylvania	$62,733	$30
   12	Michigan	$62,631	$30
   13	Oregon	$58,515	$28
   14	Ohio	$52,280	$25
   15	Colorado	$51,937	$25
   16	North Carolina	$51,505	$25
   17	Georgia	$50,574	$24
   18	Arizona	$49,738	$24
   19	Indiana	$47,934	$23
   20	Texas	$47,039	$23

   Average writer and editor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$123,787	$59.51	11
   2	Campbell-Ewald	$95,466	$45.90
   3	Food and Drug Law Institute	$93,084	$44.75
   4	Department of Homeland Security	$91,544	$44.01
   5	University Of California, Agriculture And Natural Resources	$87,762	$42.19	1
   6	Accenture	$85,656	$41.18	1
   7	Association Headquarters	$82,098	$39.47
   8	ERM	$80,437	$38.67
   9	NYU Lutheran Medical Center	$78,511	$37.75	3
   10	Journal of World History	$77,240	$37.13
   11	Pm Consulting Corp	$77,240	$37.13
   12	General Services Corporation	$77,240	$37.13
   13	Deluxe Entertainment Services Group Inc.	$76,218	$36.64
   14	The Tor Project	$76,203	$36.64
   15	BerryDunn	$74,970	$36.04
   16	Ncar - The National Center For Atmospheric Research	$74,754	$35.94
   17	GoodRx	$72,658	$34.93
   18	CERTIFIED INC.	$71,050	$34.16
   19	Paramount	$69,716	$33.52	20
   20	Grenzebach Glier + Associates	$66,754	$32.09

4. Writing a writer and editor job description

   A writer and 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a writer and editor job description:

   Writer and editor job description example

   Qualifications
   
   

   · 5 years of experience in strategic, digital and video/Television communication.

   · Experience shooting and editing 4k and HD video, writing, producing video packages for TV, studio, web and social media.

   · Experience writing video scripts that are editorially sound, compelling, on brand, and support NASA message priorities

   · Ability to generate story and script ideas and pitch those concepts to the client

   · Experience with field lighting, shooting and editing interviews, b-roll, conducting video research, writing storyboards and have strong post production editing skills.

   · Edit on Mac and PC platforms.

   · Knowledge of lighting for video and audio production using DSLRs (preferably Canon systems) and audio recorders.

   · Preference will be given to those with a strong background as a videographer and an ability for studio lighting.

   · Thorough knowledge of current video production equipment and techniques as well as production, broadcast, and digital media technical standards.

   · Visual composition skills with the ability to conceptualize and produce story telling video productions.

   · Exceptional time management skills to navigate competing priorities, high expectations, and a fast-paced, deadline-rich environment.

   · Ability to problem-solve various technical challenges.

   · Knowledge to distribute video via YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, WeTransfer, etc.

   · Use creative production techniques such as graphics and new forms of media (viewer pictures, webcam interviews, etc.) to enhance stories.

   · Work with and knowledge of a switcher is a plus.

   · Must be able to work well independently

   · Knowledge of audio and compression formats is a plus.

   · Motion Graphics experience and proficiency a plus.

   · Television news experience is a plus.

   · The ideal candidate should have a proven track record of producing pieces that increase engagement, drive interest and educate.

   · Must have a collaborative mind set, must be comfortable interfacing with clients and is team-oriented.

   · Strong, respectful communicator and problem solver.

   · Excellent written and oral communication skills.

   · Ability to work independently, establish priorities, and manage time effectively.

   · The candidate must be innovative and familiar with emerging technology such as 4k, Virtual Reality, 360 and Facebook live.

   · Preference will be given to those with previous NASA or Government video/TV or multimedia experience as well as a strong video portfolio, bachelor’s degree and relevant work experience.

   • A minimum of 4 years NASA-related experience is desired.

   
   
   Additional Information
   
   

   All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. Mori Associates is an Equal Opportunity Employer encouraging diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender identity/expression, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetics, veteran status, marital status or any other characteristic protected by law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find writer and editors for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   To find writer and editor candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as problogger, media bistro, journalismjobs.com, content writing jobs.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit writer and 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 writer and editor

   Once you've decided on a perfect writer and editor candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new writer and 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.)

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How much does it cost to hire a writer and editor?