Copy editor

Copy editors make sure content is clear, consistent, accurate and ready to publish in printed, online and audio publications.

Also known as: Sub-editor

• Starter salary£24,000 a year
• Experienced£46,000 a year
• Typical hours37 to 39 a week

What you'll do

As a copy editor, you could:

• correct spelling, grammar and punctuation errors in drafts
• pass editorial and revision notes to authors
• work on text for magazine and book covers
• check transcripts for video and audio publications
• make sure the text and content follows the publication's ‘house style'
• work closely with reporters, designers and commissioning editors
• check for potential legal issues like libel or breach of copyright
• send completed pages to the printers

Working environment

You could work in an office or from home.

Skills and knowledge you'll need

You'll need:

• knowledge of English language
• excellent written communication skills
• knowledge of media production and communication
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work well with others
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• the ability to organise your time and workload
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

How to become a copy editor

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role
• specialist training courses with professional bodies

University

You can take a degree course to become a copy editor. Most subjects are accepted.

You might improve your chances of finding work if you have a degree in a related subject, like:

• publishing
• communication and media
• English
• creative writing
• journalism

You can find journalism courses through the National Council for the Training of Journalists.

You may need subject matter expertise or a specific degree to work in specialist publications, like scientific, medical or technical journals.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Apprenticeship

You can apply to do a Publishing Professional Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship to get into this role.

This typically takes around 2 years to complete and is a mix of workplace training and off-the-job study.

Entry requirements

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

Work

You could start as an editorial assistant with a publishing company to get experience of editing and proofreading.

This type of role would also allow you to create a portfolio of your work which you can show to potential employers.

Volunteering

Having some work experience can be helpful when applying for jobs in publishing. To build up your experience, you can:

• produce articles for a student magazine or local free newspaper
• work for a charity on its printed and online publications
• write content for a blog or audio recording
• submit articles to regional newspapers or websites

Volunteering is a good way to get to know people who work in the industry. This can help as many job vacancies are not advertised.

You can also search for volunteering opportunities through The National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Do IT .

Other routes

You could take a proofreading or editing course with a professional body, like those offered by:

• The Publishing Training Centre
• the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP)
• the National Council for the Training of Journalists

Some publishing houses run graduate training schemes and internships.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could become a:

• features writer
• chief sub-editor
• production editor
• editorial manager

You could also become a commissioning editor , working with authors, literary agents and publishers to develop new content.

You might decide to be a freelance editor, working on different types of publication.

Career tips

If you want to work as a copy editor or sub-editor in journalism, the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) has advice on bursaries and funding to encourage greater diversity in the industry.

Guides for this industry

• Creative & Media: pay, interviews and getting started →

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