What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Editors in the U.S. earn more than $77,920 a year — the middle 80% land between $41,250 and $153,700. About 91,690 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Editors”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Professionals earn about ₹38,298 a month on average — around ₹4.6 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$77,920typical pay / year
91,690people in this work
$153,700+top 10% earn
₹4.6 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Evaluate submissions for publication
+Evaluate the three submitted tracks against the publication brief, flag any timing or rights issues, score…
Evaluate submissions for publication
+Evaluate the three submitted tracks against the publication brief, flag any timing or rights issues, score them for mood and mix clarity, and send a ranked recommendation with notes to Priya and Tom by Thursday so commissioning can sign off.
The tools that do the workAdobe Acrobatjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Oversee layout, design, and multimedia elements
+Oversee the layout and multimedia for the feature package: confirm artwork sizes, approve the motion-graphic…
Oversee layout, design, and multimedia elements
+Oversee the layout and multimedia for the feature package: confirm artwork sizes, approve the motion-graphic intro, check audio stems sync to the video draft, and deliver a print-ready page grid and one web-ready clip to Design by Monday morning.
The tools that do the workAdobe InDesignAdobe After Effectsjob descriptionsO*NET
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Proofread and edit stories or pieces
+Proofread the three music pieces for grammar, continuity, and correct artist credits, mark corrections…
Proofread and edit stories or pieces
+Proofread the three music pieces for grammar, continuity, and correct artist credits, mark corrections inline, verify timing references in the captions, and return annotated copies to the writers and copydesk by end of day Friday.
The tools that do the workGoogle Docsjob descriptionsO*NET
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Work with writers to develop ideas
+Work with Sam and Leila to develop two story ideas from the music desk brief: map structure, suggest…
Work with writers to develop ideas
+Work with Sam and Leila to develop two story ideas from the music desk brief: map structure, suggest interview targets, propose soundbeds and a 90-second promo, then circulate a one-page treatment for editorial approval on Wednesday.
The tools that do the workGoogle Docsjob descriptionsO*NET
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Check facts and verify citations
+Check all factual claims and music credits in the feature: verify release dates, sample clearances, and quote…
Check facts and verify citations
+Check all factual claims and music credits in the feature: verify release dates, sample clearances, and quote attributions against library records, correct any errors, and attach sources to the CMS entry before publishing on Tuesday.
The tools that do the workGoogle AnalyticsAdobe Acrobatjob descriptionsO*NET
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Recruit and manage writers and reporters
+Recruit two freelance writers for the upcoming album series: draft the brief with beats and deadlines, post…
Recruit and manage writers and reporters
+Recruit two freelance writers for the upcoming album series: draft the brief with beats and deadlines, post it to the freelance list, shortlist applicants, and schedule interviews with HR and me for next Wednesday afternoon.
The tools that do the workGoogle Docsjob descriptionsO*NET
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Write text, such as stories, articles, editorials, or newsletters.
+Draft the monthly newsletter copy covering our scoring highlights, composer interviews, and upcoming release…
Write text, such as stories, articles, editorials, or newsletters.
+Draft the monthly newsletter copy covering our scoring highlights, composer interviews, and upcoming release dates, keep it under 500 words, include two pull quotes from Emma Park and runtime details for each track, send to Sasha for a quick fact check by Thursday.
The tools that do the workGoogle DocsO*NET
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Select local, state, national, and international news items received from wire services, based on assessment of items' significance and interest value.
+Scan today’s wire feed and choose five items relevant to our audience—one local, one state, one national, two…
Select local, state, national, and international news items received from wire services, based on assessment of items' significance and interest value.
+Scan today’s wire feed and choose five items relevant to our audience—one local, one state, one national, two international—prioritise soundtrack- or rights-impacting stories, add a one-sentence rationale for each, and queue them for morning editorial at 08:30.
The tools that do the workGoogle DocsO*NET
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Arrange for copyright permissions.
+Prepare and send permission requests for the three cues used in the documentary: list cue titles, composers,…
Arrange for copyright permissions.
+Prepare and send permission requests for the three cues used in the documentary: list cue titles, composers, exact use duration, and desired territories, ask for reply within ten business days and copy legal and the producer on the message.
The tools that do the workGoogle DocsO*NET
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Read material to determine index items and arrange them alphabetically or topically, indicating page or chapter location.
+Read the draft index of our score library, mark entries that need timecodes or alternate spellings,…
Read material to determine index items and arrange them alphabetically or topically, indicating page or chapter location.
+Read the draft index of our score library, mark entries that need timecodes or alternate spellings, alphabetise by composer surname, and return the corrected list with page and cue locations to Mara by end of day Friday.
The tools that do the workGoogle DocsO*NET
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Approve final versions of content
+Listen to the final mixes for episodes six through eight, confirm track titles, cue order, and gapless…
Approve final versions of content
+Listen to the final mixes for episodes six through eight, confirm track titles, cue order, and gapless transitions are correct, sign off if no changes and notify post with a timestamped approval before 17:00 today.
The tools that do the workApple macOSjob descriptions
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Collaborate with writers, photographers, designers
+Set up a collaborative edit with Nora the writer, Lina the photographer and Jay the designer: attach the…
Collaborate with writers, photographers, designers
+Set up a collaborative edit with Nora the writer, Lina the photographer and Jay the designer: attach the storyboard, note where temp music must be replaced, ask for visuals and captions by Wednesday, and schedule a review call for Friday at 10:00.
The tools that do the workGoogle Docsjob descriptions
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Comply with media law and ethical guidelines
+Check every cue in the cut against broadcast law and our ethical checklist, flag music or lyrics that risk…
Comply with media law and ethical guidelines
+Check every cue in the cut against broadcast law and our ethical checklist, flag music or lyrics that risk defamation or licence breach, prepare a redline report for legal and the producer by Wednesday noon.
The tools that do the workGoogle Docsjob descriptions
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Meet deadlines and budget requirements
+Reconcile the music schedule with the remaining budget and the post timeline, reprioritise unpaid tracks if…
Meet deadlines and budget requirements
+Reconcile the music schedule with the remaining budget and the post timeline, reprioritise unpaid tracks if needed, and send a revised delivery plan to the composer and production manager for sign-off by Friday.
The tools that do the workGoogle Docsjob descriptions
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Allocate space for text, photos, and illustrations
+Lay out the title cards, captions and still-image slots in the picture locked sequence, mark timecode and…
Allocate space for text, photos, and illustrations
+Lay out the title cards, captions and still-image slots in the picture locked sequence, mark timecode and safe-action for each text and photo so graphics can design within the space provided.
The tools that do the workAdobe After Effectsjob descriptions
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Fact-check and ensure content ethics
+Verify all named people, organisations and quoted claims in the episode against primary sources, document…
Fact-check and ensure content ethics
+Verify all named people, organisations and quoted claims in the episode against primary sources, document each citation and notify the producer of any contested items with recommended fixes before delivery.
The tools that do the workGoogle Docsjob descriptions
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Prepare written, visual, audible, or cinematic material
+Assemble the short, audible guide tracks and one visual reference for each cue, attach licence proofs and…
Prepare written, visual, audible, or cinematic material
+Assemble the short, audible guide tracks and one visual reference for each cue, attach licence proofs and send to the supervising editor to approve the final mix notes today.
The tools that do the workAdobe After EffectsWikipedia
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Correct errors in the work
+Run the deliverable through a quick QC sweep: fix timing slips, replace mislabelled stems, correct tempo…
Correct errors in the work
+Run the deliverable through a quick QC sweep: fix timing slips, replace mislabelled stems, correct tempo drift, and upload a clean version with change notes to the post team before 18:00.
The tools that do the workGoogle DocsWikipedia
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Work closely with sound editors
+Sit with the sound editors and watch the scene from minute 12 to 25, mark every dialogue cut and FX hit, flag…
Work closely with sound editors
+Sit with the sound editors and watch the scene from minute 12 to 25, mark every dialogue cut and FX hit, flag timing mismatches against the picture, note three alternate sync options and agree which two we test in the mix tomorrow.
The tools that do the workApple macOSESCO
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Condense the original material
+Cut the raw takes down to a single suite of usable cues and stems that match the script's emotional beats,…
Condense the original material
+Cut the raw takes down to a single suite of usable cues and stems that match the script's emotional beats, label each cue by scene and timecode, and hand the condensed clip package to picture for review tomorrow noon.
The tools that do the workApple macOSWikipedia
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Refine and deliver the final product
+Polish the selected cues, fix fades and levels to broadcast standard, embed final metadata and deliver the…
Refine and deliver the final product
+Polish the selected cues, fix fades and levels to broadcast standard, embed final metadata and deliver the final audio package plus a delivery note to the post producer by Friday with checksum and version history.
The tools that do the workApple macOSWikipedia
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Decide when to ignore certain errors
+Review the flagged errors against the script and picture; ignore dropped breaths or tiny timing glitches that…
Decide when to ignore certain errors
+Review the flagged errors against the script and picture; ignore dropped breaths or tiny timing glitches that don't affect sync or narrative, document ignored items in the error log, and escalate anything that changes performance intent.
The tools that do the workGoogle DocsWikipedia
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Undo past corrections when necessary
+Restore the original takes for scenes where previous fixes flattened performance, swap back the raw audio,…
Undo past corrections when necessary
+Restore the original takes for scenes where previous fixes flattened performance, swap back the raw audio, relink timecode and version the session, then notify director and supervising sound editor of the reversal.
The tools that do the workApple macOSWikipedia
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Reorganize scenes that have been shot
+Reorder the scene cues to reflect the revised picture edit: build a new timeline with scenes in the…
Reorganize scenes that have been shot
+Reorder the scene cues to reflect the revised picture edit: build a new timeline with scenes in the director's sequence, re-sync ambiences and transitions, then export a workprint for screening on Monday.
The tools that do the workApple macOSESCO
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Decide which special effects are needed
+Watch each scene with the director's notes, mark where practical effects or music beds cannot cover editorial…
Decide which special effects are needed
+Watch each scene with the director's notes, mark where practical effects or music beds cannot cover editorial discontinuities, recommend specific effect types and priority levels in a one-page VFX brief for the post supervisor.
The tools that do the workGoogle DocsESCO
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Says who?
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses