Magazine Editors
Overview
Introduction
Magazine editors plan the contents of a magazine, assign articles and select photographs and artwork to enhance the message of the articles, and edit, organize, and sometimes rewrite the articles. They make sure that each issue is attractive and readable, and maintains the stylistic integrity of the publication. A total of 38,400 editors are employed by newspaper, periodical, book, and directory publishers in the United States.
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Salaried editors who worked for newspaper, periodical, book, and directory publishers earned an average of $78,500 in May 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The middle 50 percent of all editors earned between $51,810 and $101,100. Salaries ranged from less than $38,790 to more than $138,920. Senior editors at large-circulation magazines average more than $150,000 a year. In additi...
Work Environment
Most magazine editors work in quiet offices or cubicles. However, even in relatively quiet surroundings, editors can face many distractions. A project editor who is trying to copyedit or review the editing of others may, for example, has to deal with phone calls or e-mails from authors, questions from junior editors, meetings with members of the editorial and production staff, and questions fro...
Outlook
Employment for all editors is expected to decline by 2 percent from 2023 through 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Rising printing costs, and the popularity of mobile technology, have forced some magazines to reduce the number of issues printed or transition their print products to electronic-only publications. "Despite the growth in online media, decreases in traditional p...
