Editor Payment Models and Rates
Editors charge per hour, per word, or per project. Rates range from $10 per hour for proofreading to over $70 per hour for developmental editing. More experienced editors or those editing technical subjects tend to charge higher rates. Location also impacts rates, with coastal cities like New York and Boston commanding the highest fees. Most editors have at least a bachelor’s degree. Their annual salaries range from around $30,000 on the low end to over $120,000 on the high end, depending on experience and role.
How to Pay an Editor
How do you pay an editor? Because it’s most common for editors to charge per word edited, we wanted to know how much editors charge on average per word. As you will see below, per-word rates clump into two ranges: Between $.03-$.05 per word. Around $.10 per word. There are few editors, at least in our data set, with rates below $.03 per word. There is, however, a set of editors who charge $.20+ cents per word. When we looked at this data deeper, these also seem to be the most senior writers. Thus, it makes sense that they charge more, as they’re likely more focused on developmental editing and tone/voice correction.
Before you hire an editor (or team of editors) to polish your book, you’ll want a sense of how much each editor will cost and what you’ll get out of a paid editing collaboration. The good news is, with a bit of research and prep on your part, you can make the most of your budget and forge an excellent relationship with your editor(s), which is honestly priceless if you intend to publish multiple books!
Freelance Editing Rates
How much should I charge for editing and proofreading? A 1,000-word research paper would range in price from around 5 cents per word ($46) for a five-day turnaround time to 8 cents per word ($80) for an express edit of 24 hours. Some freelance book editors will work for $10 to $20 per hour, but you can expect experienced book editors to charge $25 or more per hour. Expect to pay more for editing technical writing or specialized subject matter, as well.
Editor Salary and Book Editing Cost
How much does it cost for an editor to edit your book? How much an editor costs, as with any self-publishing service, depends on a lot of factors. That said, for copyediting/proofreading, you’re generally looking at $1,000-$3,000 per book. For developmental editing — the higher level stuff — you’ll be looking at $5,000-$10,000 per book.
Finding an Editor and Editor’s Pay
How much should an editor get paid? The professional editor can make $80,000, whereas a fresher can earn up to $40,000 per year. However, the hourly rate may fluctuate for freelancers. It can range from $14 an hour up to $80. Many editors will get their start as article or book writers. This can help them learn how to write well and makes them more appealing as an editor.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the rate for editing depends on the editor’s experience and the level of editing required. Editors can make a substantial salary based on their expertise and the projects they undertake. It is crucial for both editors and clients to have a clear understanding of pricing structures and expectations for a successful collaboration.