Editorial Assistants

Competition for editorial jobs is fierce, and there is no shortage of people who wish to enter the field. For that reason, companies that employ editorial assistants generally pay relatively low wages.

Editorial assistants earn salaries that range from $25,000 at smaller companies to $35,000 at large publishing houses. However, beginning salaries of $20,000 or less are still common in many places.

Editorial assistants who were employed in the U.S. in August 2024 earned an average annual salary of $41,455, according to PayScale.com. Salaries ranged from $34,000 or less to $53,000 or more.

Benefits for full-time workers include vacation and sick time, health, and sometimes dental, insurance, and pension or 401(k) plans. Self-employed editorial and research assistants must provide their own benefits.