What Do Production Editors Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for production editors?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what production editors do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Production Editors Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about production editors by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Production Editors plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication.
Popular Job Titles For Production Editors
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Editors
- Technical Editors
- Copy Editors
- Content Editors
- Managing Editors
- Editorial Assistants
- News Editors
- Assignment Editors
- Writers/Editors
- Photo Editors
- Associate Editorial Directors
- Lead Assistant Editors
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for production editors can be found.
Best Industries for Production Editors
Production Editors Jobs By Industry
- Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers: 40.2%
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers: 7.6%
- Motion Picture and Video Industries: 7.3%
- Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services: 6.4%
- Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations: 3.4%
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services: 3.1%
- Other: 32%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of production editors can be found working in the Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers sector. In 2023, about 40.2% of all jobs for production editors were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (7.6%), Motion Picture and Video Industries (7.3%), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (6.4%), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (3.4%) and Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (3.1%).
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- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Do Production Editors Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what production editors do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work production editors do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that production editors tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for production editors, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Production Editors
Based on 25,465 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Production 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 Production 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 production 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 production 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% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Production Editors
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Editors | 3,048 | 15.8% |
| Technical Editors | 2,038 | 10.5% |
| Copy Editors | 1,739 | 9% |
| Content Editors | 1,529 | 7.9% |
| Managing Editors | 2,057 | 10.6% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was editors, with 1,540 unique job postings. Technical editors were second, with 963 postings, followed by copy editors, content editors and managing editors.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to production editors.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Editors | 3,048 | 15.8% |
| Technical Editors | 2,038 | 10.5% |
| Copy Editors | 1,739 | 9% |
| Content Editors | 1,529 | 7.9% |
| Managing Editors | 2,057 | 10.6% |
| Editorial Assistants | 1,463 | 7.6% |
| News Editors | 1,159 | 6% |
| Assignment Editors | 822 | 4.3% |
| Writers/Editors | 746 | 3.9% |
| Photo Editors | 560 | 2.9% |
| Associate Editorial Directors | 558 | 2.9% |
| Lead Assistant Editors | 614 | 3.2% |
| Production Editors | 518 | 2.7% |
| Digital Editors | 412 | 2.1% |
| Executive Editors | 480 | 2.5% |
| Copywriters/Editors | 373 | 1.9% |
| Engagement Editors | 279 | 1.4% |
| Magazine Editors | 338 | 1.7% |
| Medical Editors | 299 | 1.5% |
| Sports Editors | 289 | 1.5% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for production editors? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for production editors.
How much do production editors make?
Production Editors: How do you become one?
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