Content, Speech & Anthology Editing Pay Rates

How Much Scholarly, Textbook & Trade Content Editors Get Paid

Aug 23, 2009
Megan B. Wyatt

Content Editors Must See the Big Picture. - MorgueFile

Editing speeches, anthologies and content requires more big-picture editing skills than the detail-oriented skills required of most editors. Pay rates for each type vary.

Content, speech and anthology editors are often paid more than other editorial positions because these editors must see the bigger picture while editing instead of only the minor details of a piece like the grammatical, spelling, typographical and stylistic errors.

Ensuring content is accurate, fresh, reliable and properly organized are the most common tasks of scholarly, textbook and trade content editors as well as speech and anthology editors.

Pay for Scholarly Content Editing

Scholarly content editors can expect to be paid by the hour, by the project or by the page.

The average pay rate is $50 per hour, $6,000 per project or $6 per page.
The high end of payment is $125 per hour, $15,000 per project or $20 per page.
The low end of payment is $30 per hour, $500 per project or $4 per page.

Pay for Textbook Content Editing

Textbook content editors can expect to be paid by the hour, by the project or by the page.

The average pay rate is $50 per hour, $2,000 per project or $4 per page.
The high end of payment is $100 per hour, $4,500 per project or $9 per page.
The low end of payment is $23 per hour, $500 per project or $3 per page.

Pay for Trade Content Editing

Trade content editors can expect to be paid by the hour, by the project or by the page.

The average pay rate is $50 per hour, $8,000 per project or $7.50 per page.
The high end of payment is $125 per hour, $20,000 per project or $40 per page.
The low end of payment is $20 per hour, $1,000 per project or $3.75 per page.

Pay for Speech Editing

Speech editors can expect to be paid by the hour or by the project.

The average pay rate is $80 per hour or $5,500 per project.
The high end of payment is $170 per hour or $10,000 per project.
The low end of payment is $40 per hour or $2,7000 per project.

Pay for Anthology Editing

Anthology editors can expect to be paid by the hour or by the project.

The average pay rate is $50 per hour or $6,000 per project.
The high end of payment is $80 per hour or $8,000 per project.
The low end of payment is $20 per hour or $4,000 per project.

Keep in mind that pay rates for editors can vary greatly depending on experience, expertise and region. Beginning editors should expect to make the lower end of the spectrum while more seasoned editors can expect average to higher pay rates.