In today’s digital age, the landscape of work has transformed dramatically, offering myriad opportunities to earn a solid income from the comfort of your home. One such thriving area is online editing, which not only provides flexibility and convenience but also can offer a rewarding pay scale.
Whether you’re a wordsmith with a keen eye for grammatical detail, or a seasoned editor seeking the freedom of remote work, the world of online editing is teeming with possibilities.
In this article, we’ll dive into some of the best-paying online remote editing jobs you can do from home, guiding you on your path to a lucrative remote career. So, prepare your red pens and let’s get started!
How to become an online editor from home?
Becoming an online editor involves honing your skills in language, attention to detail, content creation, and understanding digital publishing platforms. Remember, becoming an online editor requires a combination of the right education, skill set, and experience. Keep improving your skills, stay adaptable, and continuously learn about the evolving digital landscape.
Here are some steps to get you started:
- Obtain a Relevant Degree: Most editors have a degree in English, Journalism, Communications, or a related field. These programs teach you essential skills in writing, grammar, and communication.
- Gain Writing Experience: Start by writing and editing your own articles, blog posts, or other types of content. This can help you understand the writing process, develop your voice, and refine your editing skills.
- Learn to Edit: Familiarize yourself with different style guides (like AP, MLA, or Chicago), and practice proofreading and editing for grammar, punctuation, style, and clarity.
- Understand SEO: As an online editor, understanding SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is crucial. Learn about keywords, meta descriptions, and how to optimize content for search engines.
- Gain Digital Skills: Familiarize yourself with content management systems like WordPress, as well as basic HTML and CSS. Knowledge of social media platforms and analytics tools is also beneficial.
- Work on Freelance Projects: Consider freelancing to gain practical experience. Websites like Upwork and Freelancer have many opportunities for aspiring editors.
- Internships or Entry-Level Positions: Look for internships or junior roles at online publications, digital marketing agencies, or content creation companies. This can give you real-world experience and help you make professional connections.
- Stay Updated: The digital world is always evolving. Keep learning and staying updated on digital trends, new social media platforms, and changes in SEO practices.
- Networking: Join professional organizations or online communities for remote editor jobs. These can offer opportunities to learn from others, stay updated on industry trends, and even find job opportunities.
Can I become an editor without a degree?
Yes, it is possible to become an editor without a formal degree, though it might require additional effort to demonstrate your skills and credibility. Many editors have degrees in English, journalism, or similar fields, but practical experience and skill can often be just as important, if not more so. If you’re interested in pursuing a career as an editor without a degree, consider the following steps:
- Master the Language: Proficiency in the language you’ll be editing is crucial. This involves not only grammar and spelling but also understanding style, tone, and the subtleties of the language. Reading widely and often can help you develop this understanding.
- Learn Editing Principles: Familiarize yourself with different style guides (like AP, MLA, or Chicago) and learn the principles of editing, including proofreading techniques and text structuring.
- Practice: Start by editing your own work, then consider volunteering to edit content for others. This could be for a local community group, a school newsletter, or even friends and family. This will give you practical experience and could lead to testimonials or references.
- Freelance Work: Consider looking for freelance editing jobs online. Websites like Upwork or Fiverr often have editing tasks. This can provide you with paid experience and a chance to build your portfolio.
- Certifications and Courses: While not a full degree, certifications from recognized institutions can provide credibility.
- Networking: Connect with other editors and writers online or in your community. They can provide valuable advice, mentorship, and job opportunities.
- Build a Portfolio: A strong portfolio can demonstrate your editing skills to potential employers. This could include before-and-after samples of your editing work.
How much do remote editors make?
The income of online editors working from home can vary widely based on several factors, including the type of work, the individual’s experience and skills, and the market rates. As of my last training cut-off in September 2021, I can provide some general estimates.
For freelance or contract work, online editors might charge by the hour, by the word, or by the project. Hourly rates can range anywhere from $15 to $50 or more. Per-word rates can vary from a fraction of a cent to several cents per word.
According to Ziprecruiter, standard editing jobs earn you $52,756/year.
For full-time remote positions, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for editors was $63,400 in May 2020. However, keep in mind that salaries can vary widely based on the industry, the size and type of the company, and the individual’s level of experience and responsibility.
Top 15 Online Editing Jobs From Home
There are numerous opportunities for online editing jobs that can be done from home, thanks to the rise of remote work and digital content. You can find remote editing roles across industries, from publishing and marketing to technical writing and academia.
Here is a list of top online editing jobs from home that pay well:
Freelance editor
Work as a remote freelance editor for various clients and companies. As a freelance editor, you could work on a variety of projects, such as articles, blog posts, books, and marketing materials.
A freelance editor is a self-employed professional who offers editing services on a project-by-project basis to various clients. These clients can range from authors and publishers to businesses and non-profit organizations. Depending on the project and the client’s needs, the freelance editor’s role can involve a range of tasks, including:
- Proofreading: Checking for and correcting typos, spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and punctuation issues.
- Copy Editing: Reviewing text for readability, consistency, and style compliance, and ensuring it’s free of errors or discrepancies.
- Substantive Editing: Reviewing the document’s structure, logical flow, and clarity to improve its overall readability and coherence. This type of editing can involve reordering large pieces of text and rephrasing for clarity.
- Content Editing: Checking the accuracy and relevancy of the content, making sure it aligns with the intended audience’s needs and expectations. This often involves some degree of fact-checking and rewriting.
Proofreader
A remote proofreader is a professional who reviews and checks written documents for errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting. While proofreading is often associated with editing, it’s typically the final stage of the editing process, focusing on surface errors rather than broader issues with the content, structure, or style.
Technical editor
A technical editor working from home is a professional who reviews, revises, and refines technical documents to ensure they are accurate, clear, well-organized, and easy to understand. Technical documents can include user manuals, technical guides, product descriptions, software documentation, research reports, and more.
Book editor
A online book editor works with authors to refine their manuscripts into finished books. They play a critical role in the publication process, working on a book from its early stages to its final print-ready version. An E-book editor edit e-books for authors and publishing companies.
Content editor
A content editor is a professional who oversees the creation, editing, posting, and updating of content on websites, blogs, online publications, or other digital platforms. Remote content editor job includes responsibilities that can encompass a range of tasks, from generating and developing content ideas to ensuring the final product aligns with style guidelines and brand voice.
Copy editor
A remote copy editor is a professional who reviews and revises written material to improve its readability, clarity, and coherence, ensuring it is free of error, inconsistency, and repetition. While a proofreader focuses on correcting overt errors and basic language usage, a copy editor delves deeper to enhance style, flow, punctuation, and accuracy.
Academic editor
An online academic editor is a professional who works with scholarly articles, academic papers, theses, or grant proposals to ensure they are clear, well-structured, and free of errors. This type of editing is crucial for academic work as it ensures the research presented is accurate, clear, and understandable, enhancing the likelihood of publication in academic journals or securing funding.
Video & Podcast editor
A remote video editor is a professional who takes raw footage and manipulates it into a polished, final product that tells a compelling story or communicates a specific message. This work involves various creative and technical tasks and is often done using professional editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or Avid Media Composer. Edit podcasts for content, sound quality, and length.
Photo editor
A remote photo editor is a professional who uses photo editing software to enhance or manipulate images. This can involve a variety of tasks, from correcting color balance or removing red-eye to more extensive work such as adding or removing elements from an image. Photo editors can work in a variety of industries, including journalism, advertising, fashion, and more.
Translation editor
A remote translation editor is a professional who reviews translations to ensure they accurately represent the source text while being culturally sensitive and appropriate for the target audience. They play a crucial role in the translation process, ensuring that the final product is high quality, accurate, free of errors, and faithful to the original content’s meaning and tone.
Marketing editor
A remote marketing editor is a professional who specializes in editing content used for marketing purposes. Their primary objective is to ensure that marketing materials, whether written or visual, are effective, engaging, and free of errors such as brochures, flyers, and email campaigns. They might work with various types of content, including blog posts, social media posts, emails, brochures, whitepapers, video scripts, and more.
Technical writer/editor
A online technical writer/editor is a professional who creates and edits technical documents or content. They work to communicate complex information clearly, accurately, and accessibly to a target audience. This could include creating or editing user manuals, how-to guides, system specifications, technical reports, white papers, and more. They write and edit technical documents such as user manuals and product guides.
Medical editor
A remote medical editor is a professional who specializes in editing medical or healthcare-related documents such as medical reports, research papers, and clinical trial data. Their work ensures that such documents are clear, accurate, and compliant with relevant guidelines or standards. Medical editors often work with medical researchers, healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, or healthcare publications.
Fiction & Script editor
A remote fiction editor or script editor is a professional who works with authors or screenwriters to enhance the quality of their storytelling. They provide essential feedback and make suggestions to improve the plot, characters, dialogue, and overall structure. The ultimate goal is to refine the material until it is ready for publication or production.
Resume editor
A online resume editor is a professional who reviews and revises resumes to make them more appealing to potential employers. Their role is to ensure that a resume not only effectively represents an individual’s skills, experiences, and achievements, but also is clear, concise, and free of errors.
These are just a few examples of the many online editing jobs available from home. Remote job boards such as DailyRemote, Indeed, and Upwork are great places to find editing jobs that you can do from home.
Where to find remote editing jobs from home?
Absolutely, here are some websites and companies that often hire remote editors:
- Cactus Communications: Specializes in providing editing services for academia and pharmaceutical companies.
- Scribendi: An online editing and proofreading service that hires remote editors on a freelance basis.
- Upwork: A freelance platform with numerous postings for remote editing jobs.
- DailyRemote: A job board specializing in remote jobs that lists remote editing roles at various locations including US, Canada, Europe and Asia with salary ranges.
- Reedsy: A marketplace for authors and publishing professionals often has openings for remote editors.
- Scribbr: An online platform that provides editing and proofreading services specifically for students often has openings for remote editors.
- Enago: Provides English editing services for academic, scientific, and medical research papers.
- Kibin: An editing and proofreading service that frequently hires remote editors.
- American Journal Experts: Hires remote editors who specialize in various fields.
- EditFast: An online editing and proofreading service. After registering, your profile is made available to clients who then hire you for projects.
- Grammarly: The popular writing assistant tool often has openings for remote editors and linguists.
- Cambridge Proofreading & Editing: Hires experienced editors across many academic and professional fields.
- Writer’s Relief: Often seeks remote editors for client manuscripts.
- Scribe Media: Occasionally hires remote freelance editors.
- Indeed: The general job board often has listings for remote editing positions.
- ProBlogger Job Board: This job board often has listings for freelance and remote editing jobs in the blogging and content writing industry.
- Book-Editing: Offers freelance editing services to authors, so they often have openings for remote editors.
- Wordvice: Specializes in editing services for academic and admissions documents, often hiring remote editors.
- LinkedIn: The job board often has remote editing jobs, just set your location preference to ‘remote’.
- ProofreadingServices.com: Offers online proofreading and editing services worldwide.
- Edit911: An online editing service that often hires remote editors with a PhD.
- Domainite: Provides writing and editing services across various domains and frequently hires remote editors.
- Polished Paper: An online editing service that frequently hires remote editors.
- SmartBrief: A digital media publisher that occasionally hires remote editors.
- FlexJobs: A job board that focuses on remote and flexible jobs, including editing positions.
Remember, when applying for remote editing jobs, ensure your application is carefully edited – it’s your first chance to showcase your editing skills!
Find Remote Editing Jobs Online at DailyRemote
If you’re looking for an online editing job from home, DailyRemote is extremely useful resource for you. You can browse through the listings, use the search function to find editing jobs specifically, and set up job alerts to receive updates on new postings that match your criteria.
DailyRemote is a job board that specializes in remote editing jobs. It features job listings from companies around the world who are seeking to hire remote workers in various fields, from software development and digital marketing to customer support, design, and editing.
As with any job search platform, be sure to research each opportunity thoroughly to ensure it aligns with your skills and career goals. Tailor your application to each specific role, highlighting your relevant experience and skills, and remember to follow each company’s specified application instructions.
Remember to research each opportunity thoroughly to ensure it’s a good fit for your skills and career goals. Tailor your application to each job posting, highlighting your relevant experience and skills. And be wary of potential scams – legitimate employers will never ask for money or sensitive personal information upfront.
If you are searching for a remote editing job at and need help finding where to look? We are a remote job board with the latest jobs in various categories to help you. Try these top remote companies offering 4 day work week and join like-minded people in our LinkedIn community.
