Copy editors and proofreaders are in demand in a world of texting, instant messaging and emailing. While there are different degrees of book editing and editors, main responsibilities of book copy editors include correcting grammatical, typographical, spelling and stylistic issues as well as overall content, consistency and voice.
Book proofreaders, however, edit the proofs made after copy editors have changed a manuscript. Proofreaders' primary responsibilities include ensuring that manuscripts are ready for printing, follow house-style and typeset and are free of errors copy editors may have missed.
Online editors' responsibilities can vary greatly from publication to publication, but they share similar tasks with book editors with one major added task: search engine optimization utilization. SEO technology and keywords help websites and articles get placed with higher importance and are extremely important to online media.
Web site editors share similar responsibilites with online editors, but their job requires more technical work with editing links and embedded features of a webpage.
Pay for Book Copy Editing
Book copy editors can expect to be paid by the hour, by the project or by the page.
- The average pay rate is $35 per hour, $3,500 per project or $4 per page.
- The high end of payment is $75 per hour, $5,500 per project or $6 per page.
- The low end of payment is $20 per hour, $2,000 per project or $1 per page.
Pay for Book Proofreading
Book proofreaders can expect to be paid by the hour or by the page.
- The average pay rate is $30 per hour or $3 per page.
- The high end of payment is $75 per hour or $5 per page.
- The low end of payment is $15 per hour or $2 per page.
Pay for Online Editing
Online editors can expect to be paid by the hour or by the page.
- The average pay rate is $60 per hour or $3.50 per page.
- The high end of payment is $110 per hour or $4 per page.
- The low end of payment is $30 per hour or $3 per page.
Pay for Web Page Editing
Web page editors can expect to be paid by the hour.
- The average pay rate is $60 per hour.
- The high end of payment is $100 per hour.
- The low end of payment is $30 per hour.
Print media is no longer as popular as online media, and this is reflected in pay rates. The requirement of SEO technology and specific terms and technology are main causes of this.
Source
Friedman, 2008 Writer's Market: Writer's Digest Books: Cincinnati, Ohio. p 66-74.
Related Reading:
- How to Become a Copy Editor
- Advertising Copywriting Pay Rates
- Pay Rates for Magazine, Newspaper & Ad Editing
Megan B. Wyatt - Megan B. Wyatt has a BA in English, edits fiction manuscripts and currently works as an entertainment reporter in Lafayette, Louisiana.
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