What a journal editor does

A journal editor manages the process of turning submitted manuscripts into published articles. You read submissions, decide which ones fit the journal's scope, send them to peer reviewers, collect feedback, ask authors to revise, and make the final call on what gets published. The work is part gatekeeper, part coach, and part project manager.

Most editors work for academic or trade journals in fields like medicine, engineering, business, or the sciences. Some journals are published by universities, others by professional societies or commercial publishers. The role can be full-time, part-time, or voluntary — many academics take on editing as part of their career without leaving their primary job.

Day-to-day tasks include reading abstracts and full papers, writing decision letters to authors, tracking manuscripts through revision cycles, managing important date, and communicating with your editorial board. You need to understand the field well enough to spot weak methodology or unsupported claims, but you don't have to be the world's leading informed — that's what peer reviewers are for.

Key Takeaways

  • Journal editors review submissions, manage peer review, and decide which manuscripts get published, working either full-time for a publisher or part-time while holding another job.
  • Most editor positions require a graduate degree in the journal's subject area and several years of research or professional experience in that field.
  • You can start by becoming a peer reviewer, joining an editorial board, or explore directly to journals that are hiring editors.
  • Pay varies widely: full-time editors at major publishers earn $50,000 to $90,000 per year, while part-time academic editors often receive no salary but gain professional standing.
  • The job demands strong writing skills, attention to detail, and the ability to give constructive feedback to authors whose work you may reject.

Types of editor roles and where they sit

Editor-in-Chief is the top position. You set the journal's direction, approve all major decisions, and represent it publicly. This role usually goes to established researchers or industry figures and often carries prestige but limited pay if the journal is academic.

Managing Editor handles the day-to-day workflow. You track submissions, coordinate with reviewers, manage timelines, and keep the process moving. This is often a full-time salaried position, especially at commercial publishers.

Associate Editor reviews submissions in your specialty area, makes recommendations on which ones to send to peer review, and may oversee a section of the journal. Many academics hold this title while keeping their university position.

Section Editor oversees a specific topic within a larger journal — for example, the "Clinical Practice" section of a medical journal. You recruit reviewers and make decisions for papers in your area.

Peer Reviewer is not technically an editor role, but it is the entry point. You evaluate one or two manuscripts per year, write a report, and recommend accept, revise, or reject. This unpaid work builds your credibility and often leads to editor invitations.

Education and experience you need

Most journals require a master's degree or PhD in the subject area. Some will consider a bachelor's degree plus 5 to 10 years of relevant work experience, but the bar is higher. You need to understand the research or practice in your field well enough to spot problems and guide authors toward improvement.

Beyond the degree, journals want to see that you have published your own work, worked in the field, or both. If you are an academic, your publication record matters. If you work in industry, your professional standing and knowledge of current practice matter. You do not need to be famous, but you need to be credible within your community.

Some journals will train you on their specific process and software, so technical editing experience is helpful but not always required. What matters more is the ability to read critically, write clearly, and give feedback that helps authors improve their work.

How to find and land an editor position

Start by becoming a peer reviewer. When you publish in a journal or present at a conference in your field, editors notice. You can also contact a journal's editor directly and offer to review. Most journals have a "Reviewers" or "Contact Us" page on their website. Write a short email with your CV, mention your informed, and ask if they need reviewers. Many will say yes.

After you have reviewed a few manuscripts, you become known to the editorial team. When an associate editor or section editor position opens, you may be invited to explore. This is how many academics move into editing — it is not usually a job you find on a general job board.

For full-time managing editor or production editor roles at publishers, check job sites like LinkedIn, Indeed, or the websites of major publishers (Elsevier, Springer, Wiley, Taylor & Francis). These positions are advertised like other office jobs and usually require 2 to 5 years of editorial or publishing experience.

Professional societies in your field often post editor openings on their websites. If you belong to a society in your discipline, check their career page or newsletter. Societies publish many journals and prefer to hire from within their membership.

What the work environment looks like

If you are a full-time managing editor at a publisher, you work in an office or hybrid setup, use editorial management software (systems like ScholarOne or Manuscript Central), and coordinate with authors, reviewers, and production staff. The pace can be steady or hectic depending on submission volume and important date.

If you are an associate editor or section editor at an academic journal, you usually work part-time from home or your university office. You read submissions on your own schedule, write decision letters, and attend occasional editorial board meetings — sometimes in person, often by video. The commitment is typically 5 to 15 hours per week, though it varies by journal.

The work is solitary in some ways — you spend time reading and writing — but collaborative in others. You work with authors, reviewers, other editors, and production teams. You need patience for the revision cycle, which can take months. You also need to handle rejection gracefully; many authors will push back on your decisions, and you have to stand firm or reconsider fairly.

Pay and career path

Full-time managing editor positions at major publishers typically pay between $50,000 and $90,000 per year, depending on location, publisher size, and your experience. Entry-level managing editors start around $45,000; senior editors or those at large publishers earn more.

Part-time associate editor roles at academic journals usually pay nothing. You do it for professional standing, the chance to shape your field, and the credential on your CV. Some journals offer a small honorarium ($500 to $2,000 per year) or a subscription to the journal, but most offer no payment.

Editor-in-Chief positions vary widely. At a major commercial journal, the role may be salaried at $80,000 to $150,000 or higher. At an academic journal, it is often unpaid or comes with a small stipend. The prestige and influence matter more than the money in academic settings.

From here, you can move into senior editorial roles at larger publishers, take on leadership of multiple journals, or move into publishing management. Some editors transition into author relations, acquisitions, or other publishing roles. Others stay in editing for their entire career because they enjoy shaping the field.

Skills that matter most

You need strong reading comprehension and the ability to spot logical gaps, weak evidence, or unclear writing quickly. You will read dozens of papers, so you have to be efficient without missing important problems.

Writing ability is critical. Your decision letters to authors set the tone for the journal and influence how authors respond. Clear, fair, constructive feedback keeps authors engaged even when you reject their work.

Judgment matters. You have to decide which papers are worth sending to peer review, which reviewer comments are valid, and when an author's revision is good enough. You will make mistakes, but you learn from them.

Diplomacy helps. Authors are often emotionally invested in their work. Reviewers sometimes write harsh reports. You have to manage both groups, stay neutral, and keep the process moving without creating conflict.

Finally, attention to detail and comfort with software and systems are practical necessities. Editorial management platforms have learning curves, and you will track hundreds of small important date and decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be published to become a journal editor?

It helps significantly, especially for academic journals. Most editors have at least a few publications in their field. However, some managing editor roles at publishers focus on process and software rather than subject informed, so publication history matters less. Your best bet is to start as a peer reviewer and build a track record that way.

Can I edit a journal while working a full-time job?

Yes. Many academics and professionals hold associate editor or section editor roles while keeping their primary job. The commitment is usually 5 to 15 hours per week, and you control your schedule. Full-time managing editor roles are different — those are standalone jobs.

What software do journal editors use?

Most journals use editorial management systems like ScholarOne (Clarivate), Manuscript Central, or eJournal Press. These platforms handle submission, peer review, revision tracking, and decision workflows. You do not need experience with these before you start — publishers train you — but familiarity with similar software helps.

How long does it take to move from peer reviewer to editor?

It typically takes 2 to 5 years of regular peer reviewing before a journal invites you to join the editorial board or take on an associate editor role. The timeline depends on how actively you review, how visible you are in your field, and whether the journal has an opening. There is no fixed path.

What is the difference between a peer reviewer and an editor?

A peer reviewer evaluates one or two papers per year and writes a report recommending accept, revise, or reject. An editor makes the final decision on those recommendations, manages the revision process, and shapes the journal's overall direction. Editors also recruit reviewers and handle author communications.