Editors: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of editors about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for editors to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of editors expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for editors.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Editors?
Do editors need a degree? What kind of experience do editors typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for editors to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Editors
Jobs Postings for Editors By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 12,531 (45%)
- No Education Listed: 10,795 (38%)
- Master's degree: 2,136 (8%)
- High School or GED: 1,608 (6%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 974 (3%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of editors. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 45% of positions. In 38% of job listings no education level was listed and in 8% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Editors
Jobs Postings for Editors By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 2,246 (16%)
- 2-3 Years: 5,938 (41%)
- 4-6 Years: 4,280 (30%)
- 7-9 Years: 1,144 (8%)
- 10+ Years: 878 (6%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for editors. In 41% of job postings for Editors, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 30% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 16% of job postings for editors.
What Kind of Degree Do Editors Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for editors, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 27 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective editors, and in 2023 a total of 99,209 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective editors.
Top Degree Programs for Editors
Top 5 Degree Programs for Editors (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| English Language and Literature, General. | 35,412 |
| Communication, General. | 11,220 |
| Journalism. | 10,005 |
| Mass Communication/Media Studies. | 9,221 |
| Creative Writing. | 7,455 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| English Language and Literature, General. | 35,412 |
| Communication, General. | 11,220 |
| Journalism. | 10,005 |
| Mass Communication/Media Studies. | 9,221 |
| Creative Writing. | 7,455 |
| Public Relations/Image Management. | 4,513 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. | 4,139 |
| Professional, Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing. | 2,863 |
| Communication and Media Studies, Other. | 2,831 |
| Organizational Communication, General. | 1,835 |
| Rhetoric and Composition. | 1,511 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Other. | 1,470 |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other. | 1,238 |
| Journalism, Other. | 1,186 |
| Broadcast Journalism. | 848 |
| Business/Corporate Communications, General. | 814 |
| Writing, General. | 742 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies, Other. | 577 |
| General Literature. | 403 |
| Publishing. | 371 |
| English Literature (British and Commonwealth). | 249 |
| Technical and Scientific Communication. | 167 |
| Children's and Adolescent Literature. | 60 |
| American Literature (United States). | 40 |
| Grantsmanship. | 20 |
| Literature, Other. | 16 |
| Business/Corporate Communications, Other. | 3 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Editors
Learn how to evaluate, support and integrate communications efforts to help move businesses in front of their competition, including executing strategic plans, developing print materials, and creating digital content in a variety of professional positions, such as PR specialist, copywriter and marketing coordinator.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Learn to craft clear and effective messages while adding new media communication methods to your professional toolkit.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Stand out with a specialized master’s degree focused entirely on strategically integrating marketing and communication.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Build applied skills in strategic communication alongside valuable insights into healthcare industry leadership and policy with Franklin’s 16-month online master’s in healthcare communications.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Deepen your understanding of communication principles and become a strategic communication planner and manager with Franklin’s 16-month online master’s in strategic communication.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Editors Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by editors to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for editors, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Editors
Based on 25,465 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Editors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Journalism | 7,912 | 31% |
| Proofreading | 4,737 | 19% |
| Marketing | 4,322 | 17% |
| Copy Editing | 3,647 | 14% |
| Social Media | 3,475 | 14% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Editors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Editing | 13,909 | 55% |
| Communication | 12,596 | 49% |
| Writing | 10,777 | 42% |
| Detail Oriented | 7,328 | 29% |
| Research | 6,070 | 24% |
Based on 25,465 job postings related to editors, journalism was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 31% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for proofreading, marketing, copy editing, social media and project management were also highly sought.
As for common skills, editing was the most desired skill found in job postings for editors, followed by communication, writing, detail oriented, research and english language.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Journalism | 7,912 | 31% |
| Proofreading | 4,737 | 19% |
| Marketing | 4,322 | 17% |
| Copy Editing | 3,647 | 14% |
| Social Media | 3,475 | 14% |
| Project Management | 3,405 | 13% |
| Content Creation | 3,196 | 13% |
| Content Editing | 2,949 | 12% |
| Search Engine Optimization | 2,943 | 12% |
| Workflow Management | 2,873 | 11% |
| Style Guides | 2,582 | 10% |
| Newsletters | 2,473 | 10% |
| Punctuation and Capitalization | 2,111 | 8% |
| Adobe Photoshop | 2,037 | 8% |
| AP Stylebook | 1,777 | 7% |
| Analytics | 1,540 | 6% |
| Storytelling | 1,517 | 6% |
| Fact Checking | 1,436 | 6% |
| HyperText Markup Language (HTML) | 1,415 | 6% |
| Technical Writing | 1,326 | 5% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Editing | 13,909 | 55% |
| Communication | 12,596 | 49% |
| Writing | 10,777 | 42% |
| Detail Oriented | 7,328 | 29% |
| Research | 6,070 | 24% |
| English Language | 5,792 | 23% |
| Grammar | 4,417 | 17% |
| Management | 4,242 | 17% |
| Ability To Meet Deadlines | 3,740 | 15% |
| Planning | 3,705 | 15% |
| Microsoft Office | 3,435 | 13% |
| Leadership | 3,309 | 13% |
| Organizational Skills | 3,024 | 12% |
| Microsoft Excel | 2,797 | 11% |
| Time Management | 2,738 | 11% |
| Self-Motivation | 2,503 | 10% |
| Problem Solving | 2,423 | 10% |
| Operations | 2,409 | 9% |
| Multitasking | 2,390 | 9% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 2,298 | 9% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about editors? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for editors.
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