Copy Editor

Typical Salary

£22,000 To £40,000

Typical Hours

37 to 39 a week

evenings occasionally

How To Become a Copy Editor

You can get into this job through:

a university course
an apprenticeship
working towards this role
specialist training courses with professional bodies
a graduate training scheme

College / University

Many copy editors have a degree. Most subjects are accepted.

5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English

2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Apprenticeship

You can work towards this role through an advanced apprenticeship as a publishing assistant.

Routes into this Career

You could start as an editorial assistant in a publishing company and build up your experience of proofreading and text editing. This would also allow you to build a portfolio of work, to showcase your skills to potential employers.

Other Routes

You could take a proofreading or editing course, like the ones offered by the The Publishing Training Centre or the Society for Editors and Proofreaders.

Some publishing houses run graduate training schemes and internships.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

knowledge of English language
knowledge of media production and communication
the ability to read English
excellent verbal communication skills
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
excellent written communication skills
the ability to work well with others
to be flexible and open to change
to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Day To Day Tasks

Your day-to-day duties might include:

correcting spelling, grammar and punctuation errors
checking the length of the text fits in with publisher requirements
making sure the text is in the right style
making sure the meaning of the text is clear
checking that references are quoted correctly and pictures have the right captions
checking for legal issues, like libel or breach of copyright
talking to the author about queries or revisions

Working Environment

You could work in an office or from home.

Career Path & Progression

You could become a features writer, chief sub-editor or production editor. Some sub-editors go freelance.

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities are not listed for this job.

Tips & Information

Career tips

Employers will often expect you to have some experience in the publishing industry.

You could get experience in the publishing industry from:

job shadowing
editing and proofreading student magazines and websites
admin work in a publishing company

Professional and industry bodies

You could join a professional organisation like The Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP).

Further information

The Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP) and the Publishing Training Centre have further details on training options.

You can also find out more about working in this and other creative careers from Discover Creative Careers.

Restrictions & Requirements

Restrictions & Requirements are not listed for this job.