Can You Really Make a Living as an Editor?
“Can you really make a living as an editor?”
If someone has asked you that, or if you’ve asked yourself this question, you’re not alone, and it’s definitely okay to wonder. Freelance careers, especially in the arts and publishing, can feel shrouded in mystery. The good news? Yes, you can absolutely make a living as an editor. But as with any sustainable career, it takes clarity, skill-building, business sense, and a willingness to grow.
In this post, we’ll unpack what it actually looks like to make a living as an editor, how editors earn income ethically, and how Editors School prepares you to do it confidently without burnout, guesswork, or undercharging.
What “Make a Living as an Editor” Really Means for Freelancers
What does “make a living as an editor” mean? For some editors, it means replacing a 9-to-5 salary with full-time freelance income. For others, it might mean building a part-time or side-hustle business that supplements household income and allows time for family, fuels the freelancer’s creative freedom, or provides career flexibility.
Here’s what’s true across the board: freelance editing can be profitable and reliable, especially when you build your business with intention.
Income Ranges
While exact numbers vary based on experience, specialization, and client base, here are some real-world income ranges:
- Beginner editors (1–2 years): $20,000–$45,000/year
- Intermediate editors (3–5 years): $40,000–$75,000/year
- Experienced editors (5+ years): $70,000–$100,000+/year
Keep in mind that many freelance editors also control how much they work and how many clients they take on. Your income is a product of your rates, project volume, and business practices.
How Freelance Book Editors Actually Earn Income
One of the best things about editing is that there’s not just one way to earn. But there is a right way to charge, and at Editors School, we emphasize ethical, sustainable pricing models that benefit both you and your clients.
Why We Never Charge by the Hour
Hourly pricing does a disservice to both the editor and the author. Here’s why:
- If you work efficiently, you get paid less.
- If you take your time so that you earn more, the client pays more.
- Either way, someone loses—and transparency and trust go out the window.
That’s why Editors School teaches students to avoid hourly pricing completely.
Pricing That Works for Everyone
Instead, we advocate for these ethical, client-friendly models:
Per-project pricing: You assess the scope of the work and quote a flat rate. The client knows what they’re paying. You know what you’re earning. No one gets cheated if your pace changes.
Per-word pricing: This is useful for very clear scopes like proofreading. It can also be used for other levels of editing. We charge based on the number of words in the document when it arrives.
“But,” knowledgeable people say, “Some manuscripts increase or decrease substantially in length during the developmental editing process and the line editing process.” That is true. In that case, we start by charging for the number of words that are in the manuscript when it arrives, and if it increases in word count by 10% (or 5,000 words) or more, we then charge for those additional words at the end of that phase. We don’t give a refund if the word count decreases, because those words had to be processed by the editor and should be paid for.
Per-word pricing is simple to quote and easy to understand, but it should be paired with minimums and clear boundaries. As with flat-fee pricing, no one gets cheated if your pace changes.
When you charge based on the value of the work and the clarity of the scope, everyone wins.
For more on this, see our post Never Charge Hourly and Here’s Why.
Diversifying Income Streams
Many freelances expand their offerings to make a living as an editor:
- Manuscript critiques or assessments: Less intensive than editing, but high in value.
- Author coaching or consultations: Especially for new authors who need strategic guidance.
- Teaching or workshops: If you enjoy mentoring others, share your expertise.
- Partnerships with publishers or ghostwriters: Some editors land recurring contracts as go-to collaborators. Look into small presses like Smidgen Press, Free Agent Press, or Park End Books.
Multiple streams not only increase your income; they protect you from feast-or-famine cycles.
The Freelance Mindset: Business, Not Hobby
Here’s a truth we teach from day one at Editors School:
You’re not “just an editor,” you’re a business owner.
It’s tempting to see freelance editing as a hobby or creative outlet. Many people treat it that way and charge pennies on the dollars they should be charging. That does a disservice to us professionals. Don’t be a saboteur.
If you want to make a living as an editor and have consistent income and long-term success, you must treat your editing as a professional service no matter how much or little time you work on it.
That means learning how to do these things:
- Set and enforce professional rates.
- Define project scopes clearly.
- Use contracts and onboarding processes.
- Communicate like a pro, even in tough conversations.
- Say no to bad fits and yes to projects that align.
When you think like a business owner, you stop feeling stuck. You make decisions from a place of confidence and vision, not fear or desperation. That helps you make a living as an editor.
How Editors School Helps You Build a Profitable Editing Career
So, how do you go from uncertainty to actual income?
At Editors School, we give you the complete toolkit to make freelance editing work—not just creatively, but also financially.
Here’s what sets our approach apart:
Practical Editorial Training
We don’t just teach theory. You’ll practice your ideal type of editing using real manuscripts and get clear on how to scope and price them.
Business Foundations
You need to know how to do all of these:
- Craft ethical, effective pricing structures.
- Write client contracts and proposals.
- Run smooth discovery calls.
- Set income goals and map out monthly revenue.
Mentorship & Community
Freelancing can feel isolating. Even if your family members are all around you, they don’t understand the technical requirements or other aspects of learning to make a living as an editor. You need others who are going through the same things, and a leader who has been there.
You need more than editing skills to make a living as a freelance editor. You need a clear strategy, a support system, and the right tools to help you work smarter—not harder.
You need these things:
- A community where you can share struggles, celebrate wins, and swap referrals with people who actually get what you’re building.
- Proven resources like checklists, swipe files, invoice templates, and client communication scripts that save time and reduce second-guessing.
- A mindset that shifts from “Can I do this?” to “I’ve got this.”
Because editing is more than a skill. It’s a business. And when you treat it that way—with systems, confidence, and support—you stop spinning your wheels and start moving forward.
Is Freelance Editing the Right Path for You?
This career isn’t for everyone, but if you’re still reading, chances are it is for you.
If these are true, then it might be a natural fit:
✅ You love books, language, and helping authors and other writers bring their work to life.
✅ You enjoy deep-focus work and spotting the details others miss.
✅ You want freedom over your time, energy, and income.
✅ You’re ready to invest in yourself and build something real.
You don’t need to have it all figured out to make a living as an editor. You just need a starting point, a roadmap, and a little momentum.
Freelance book editing isn’t a fantasy. You can make a living as an editor doing real, meaningful, creative work.
To succeed, you’ll need to do these things:
- Price your services clearly and fairly.
- Set healthy boundaries and scope projects with confidence.
- Communicate like a pro with every client.
- Build a portfolio that reflects your skills.
- Treat your editing like the business it is.
Whether you’re just starting out or you’re ready to level up, everything you need is within reach.
TL;DR:
Yes—you can make a living as an editor. With smart pricing, a professional mindset, and the right training, you’ll turn your passion for editing into a profitable, fulfilling business. Editors School can help you do all of that.
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