Editor
Work with writers to help them get their messages across as clearly as possible.
Job opportunities
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Jobs in SEEK right nowJob growth
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5-year projectionSalary
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Typical salaryJob satisfaction
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Job opportunities
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Jobs in SEEK right nowSalary
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Typical salaryJob growth
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5-year projectionJob satisfaction
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On this page
- What's it like to be an Editor?
- How to become an Editor
- Latest Editor jobs
- Top skills and experience for Editors
- Is Editor the right role for you?
- Editor role reviews
What's it like to be an Editor?
Editors read and correct a range of communications collateral from newspapers, books, poetry, magazines, newsletters and brochures, through to educational materials, advertisements, scholarly articles, annual reports and websites. It’s the Editor’s task to review the written material and assist the writer in effectively reaching their target audience.Did you find this video helpful?
Tasks and duties
- Carrying out structural editing to make sure a piece of writing is structured logically.
- Choosing the right style and language and ensuring consistency throughout a piece of writing.
- Correcting language errors, such as poor grammar and incorrect spelling and punctuation.
- Removing ambiguity, clarifying the author’s meaning, simplifying obscure language and bureaucratic, technical or specialist jargon.
- Making a manuscript more appealing to an agent or a publisher.
- Checking for any potential legal problems, such as plagiarism, ethical or moral problems, copyright infringements and defamation risks.
- Liaising with or managing staff involved in the production of the publication such as the designer, illustrator, typesetter and printer.
- Maintaining a record of corrections after production for use in any reprints or new editions.
How to become an Editor
You don’t need a formal editing qualification to become an Editor, however you usually have to complete a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification or a bachelor degree to be considered for roles in this field.
- Complete your Senior Secondary Certificate of Education.
- Complete a VET qualification such as the Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing (22203VIC). Alternatively, complete a bachelor degree in professional writing, journalism, communications, media studies or a related field.
- Read the second edition of the Australian Standards of Editing Practice developed by the Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd).
Compare your salary
Find out how your salary compares with the average salary for Editors.Latest Editor jobs on SEEK
Be one of the first to discover these recently listed jobs, or browse all Editor jobs on SEEK right now.Did you find this helpful?
Skills and experience employers are looking for
Having the right skills and experience can make you an in-demand applicant. Editor employers on SEEK are looking for job seekers with expertise in the following areas. Editorial
Editing
Journalism
Publishing
Proofreading
Publication
Search Engine Optimisation
Social Media
Content Strategy
Grammar
Source: SEEK job ads and SEEK Profile data
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Latest Editor reviews
Oct 2023
Rewarding, diverting, interesting and satisfying
Reviewer's QualificationBachelor of Arts
Experience10+ years
Organisation sizeLarge (200+ employees)
SpecialisationGovernment & Defence
The good thingsWhat I like about my role varies from day to day. The things I like best include the opportunity to use both sides of my brain! I get to be creative, innovative and think every day about how best to c...
The challengesLike any role, being an editor (and copywriter) means dealing with people who can come across as difficult or unpleasant. It also means sometimes accepting that our client does not want to make the ch...
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May 2021
Editing is so much more than spelling and punctuation; it is a multi-skilled profession.
Experience10+ years
Organisation sizeI'm self-employed
SpecialisationNonfiction editor
The good thingsEmbarking on a second career as a freelance editor after 10 years in the same job has allowed me to work on a great diversity of projects with clients from many different backgrounds, from very young ...
The challengesEditing is one of the most poorly understood professions; it is so much more than checking spelling, punctuation and grammar. Also, unless you are lucky to start your career in a publishing house, the...
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Help people decide if your job is right for them - it only takes a few minutes.Source: SEEK role reviews
SEEK has not verified the truth or accuracy of these comments and does not adopt or endorse any of the comments posted on this page.SEEK collects and posts the comments for what they are worth and for information purposes only to assist candidates to find employment through www.seek.com.au
