Editorial Assistant Jobs: Salary and Career Facts

<p>An editorial assistant is considered the most entry-level position one can hold in the publishing industry. Editorial assistants have varied responsibilities depending on the requirements of the publication or company that they work for. Aside from writing and working on administrative duties, they also assist in all aspects of the publication process. If you aspire to be an editorial assistant, you'll most likely find work in some branch of the publishing industry. Newspapers, book publishers, magazines and websites are the foremost employers of editorial assistants. </p> <p>Utilize this table for important information on how to become an editorial assistant. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td>
<b>Degree Required</b>
</td><td>
Bachelor's degree</td></tr> <tr><td>
<b>Education Field of Study</b>
</td><td> English, publishing, journalism</td></tr> <tr><td>
<b>Key Duties</b>
</td><td>
Administrative duties, assisting editors, writing</td></tr> <tr><td>
<b>Job Growth (2020-2030)</b>
</td><td>
5%* (<i>for all editors</i>)</td></tr> <tr><td>
<b>Median Salary (2022)</b>
</td><td>
$37,558**</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, **PayScale.com.</i> </p> <h3 id="section---WhatKindOfEducationWillINeed">What Kind of Education Will I Need?</h3> <p>There is no one set educational path for aspiring editorial assistants. Oftentimes, the ideal degree program will vary depending upon which branch of publishing you're interested in pursuing. For example, if you're interested in working in book publishing, you might consider earning a bachelor's degree in English, writing or English literature. By contrast, if working for a news magazine strikes your interest, you might consider earning a bachelor's degree in journalism. </p> <p>Some schools do offer competitive graduate programs specifically aimed towards individuals who are interested in working in publishing. Such programs will not only provide you with an understanding of grammar and literary concepts, but will also provide you with an overview of the publishing industry. </p> <h3 id="section---AreThereOpportunitiesForAdvancement">Are There Opportunities for Advancement?</h3> <p>Most editorial assistants work their way up to other positions after building a few years of experience. You can decide whether you're interested in becoming a full-time editor or a staff writer for a magazine or newspaper. If you work for a book publishing company, you can also become a full-time book editor in that field. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatKindOfSalaryCanIExpect">What Kind of Salary Can I Expect?</h3> <p>According to <i>PayScale.com</i>, the middle range of editorial assistants earned between $30,000 and $47,000, as of January 2022. The employment of editors is predicted to grow by three percent between 2020 and 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). </p> <h3 id="section---WhatAreSomeRelatedAlternativeCareers">What Are Some Related Alternative Careers?</h3> <p>Your career options include joining the writing industry as a writer, author or technical writer. You may also explore the broadcast news industry as a reporter, correspondent or a broadcast news analyst. Authors and writers produce and develop well-crafted content for books, magazines, movies, television shows and other forms of media. Technical writers create technical documentations such as manuals and how-to guides that enable people to understand and comprehend the use of a certain product or service. Reporters, correspondents and broadcast news analysts gather important information from different sources and report it as news to the public. Information may include trending issues and events happening both locally and abroad. All of these careers require a bachelor's degree.</p>