Editors held about 117,200 jobs in 2014. The industries that employed the most editors were as follows:
Newspaper, periodical, book, and directory publishers
44%
Professional, scientific, and technical services
8
Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations
8
Educational services; state, local, and private
5
Although most editors work in offices, a growing number now work remotely from home. They often use desktop or electronic publishing software, scanners, and other electronic communications equipment to produce their material.
Jobs are somewhat concentrated in major media and entertainment markets—Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, DC—but improved communications and Internet capabilities are allowing editors to work from a greater variety of locations.
Overseeing and coordinating multiple writing projects simultaneously is common among editors and may lead to stress, fatigue, or other chronic problems.
Freelance editors face the added pressures of finding work on an ongoing basis and continually adjusting to new work environments.
Work Schedules
Most editors work full time, and their schedules are generally determined by production deadlines and the type of editorial position. Editors typically work in busy offices and have to deal with production deadline pressures and the stresses of ensuring that the information they publish is accurate. As a result, editors often work many hours, especially at those times leading up to a publication deadline. These work hours can be even more frequent when an editor is working on digital material for the Internet or for a live broadcast.
