Do you have a passion for correcting typos every time you come across them in a piece of written work?
Are you the kind that cannot resist the urge to get that pencil and underline or even correct spelling errors?
You might want to consider picking up editing jobs as part-time remote work.
Although looked at as a side-hustle by many, being a freelance editor can become a lucrative long-term venture.
The best part is that with online editing jobs, you work from home, determine your workload, and your work schedule.
Possession of the necessary skills is a key that will open for you doors on your upward journey. Indeed, with the right skills, you can work as a:
- Copy editor
- Content editor
- Managing editor
- Video editor, among others
Best Paying Editing Jobs
Financial Editors
Financial editing rates among the best paying online editing jobs. The field offers a variety of jobs for editors.
According to comparably, the average financial editor in the US makes $108,446. In addition, a financial editor also earns bonuses of up to $11,187 (approximately 10% of their salary) each year.
However, in some states, such as San Francisco, financial editors earn as high as $167,624.
Some of the best paying industries for financial editors include:
- The securities
- Commodity contracts
- Brokerage sectors
- Financial industries
As a financial editor, you are responsible for researching financial news and topics and producing and editing financial writings. You are also responsible for generating financial stories and ideas.
The requirements for working as a financial editor include:
- A bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, communications, finance, or economics
- Some proven writing experience
- Stay updated with technology
You can look at some of the available job postings for remote financial editors at SimplyHired.
Legal Editors
The legal field is another high-paying field for remote work.
According to ZipRecruiter, a freelancer legal editor in the US earns an average of $49,196 a year. This translates into approximately $23.65 per hour, $946 per week, or $4,100 per month.
However, the position of legal editors can attract salaries as high as $59,500 and as low as $32,000.
The following table shows the average salaries for legal writers in different cities:
| City | Average Annual Pay | Average monthly salary | Average weekly salary | Average wage per hour |
| San Jose (California) | $59,678 | $4,973 | $1,148 | $28.69 |
| Tanaina (Alaska) | $58,757 | $4,896 | $1,130 | $28.25 |
| Norwalk (Connecticut) | $5,7549 | $4,796 | $1,107 | $27.67 |
| Concord (California) | $57.230 | $4,769 | $$1,101 | $27.51 |
| Seattle (Washington) | $57, 365 | $4,780 | $$1,103 | $27.58 |
To become a legal writer, you will require a bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, political science, or law itself. However, many employers prefer those with experience in the law field.
As a legal editor, you can offer editing services in:
- Copy editing
- Proofreading
- Content editing
- Ensuring written documents comply with the standards of the organization
To be an effective legal editor, you must have an eye for detail, enjoy law, and be a strong communicator.
As a legal editor, you can work in the following industries:
- Print media
- Law firms
- Legal publications
- Different websites
Look up Ziprecuiter for some current legal editing jobs.
Medical Editors
Medicine is the highest paying field that offers remote work to editors.
As of July 5, 2021, a medical editor earns an average annual pay of $70,159. This translates into approximately $33.73 an hour, $1,349 per week, or $5,847 per month.
However, the annual salary can go as low as $20,500 and as high as $152,500.
To become a medical editor, you will require:
- A bachelor’s degree in English or journalism
- Some employers may require a degree in medicine
- Strong writing and editing skills
- Prior work experience as a medical writer
- Close familiarity with the medical industry
Some top-level jobs may require you to have specialized knowledge in a specific medical field.
You can check some medical editor opportunities here.
Scientific and Technical Editors
Another high-paying remote editing career is scientific and technical editing.
According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual pay for scientific and technical editors is $87,281. This translates into about $41.96 per hour or $7,273 per month.
However, the annual average pay may go as low as $32,000 and as high as $114,500.
The table below shows scientific and technical pay in different states of the US.
| City | Average Annual Pay | Average monthly salary | Average weekly salary | Average wage per hour |
| San Francisco (California) | $102, 268 | $8,522 | $1,967 | $49.17 |
| Jersey city (New Jersey) | $97.878 | $8,157 | $1,882 | $47.06 |
| Green River (Wyoming) | $97.300 | $8,108 | $1,871 | $47.06 |
| Washington, DC | $100,197 | $8,350 | $1,927 | $48.17 |
| Freemont (California) | $98,369 | $8,197 | $1,892 | $47.29 |
To qualify as a scientific and technical editor, you will need:
- A degree in English or communications
- Strong writing and editing skills
- Additional training in science or engineering is an added advantage
Your roles and responsibilities will revolve around fields such as scientific research, architecture, specialized design, and engineering.
Education Editors
The educational sector is another crucial sector that pays well.
According to Glassdoor, an education editor earns an average of $58,020 per year in the United States.
As an education editor, you can work with:
- Schools
- Universities
- Companies in educational support services
- Education-focused publications
Although a degree in English or communication is necessary, it may not be sufficient. You may require an additional graduate degree in education and some teaching experience.
The Best-Paying Online Editing Sites
Here are several reliable sites that can help you secure the best paying online editing jobs.
Cactus Global
Cactus Global has over 2000 freelancers on their platform working on online editing jobs.
Their working hours are very flexible, and you can pocket up to $4,000 a month.
If you deliver quality work consistently, you also get a 20% bonus on your pay.
The site mostly looks for proofreaders and editors with a scientific and medical background.
However, to work at Cactus communications, you have to pass an editing test of 10 multiple-choice questions.
The test assesses your knowledge in:
- Word choice
- English grammar
- Sentence construction
The test will take you around 30 minutes, and is followed by other subject-specific tests and an interview.
WriterAcess
WriterAcess focuses mostly on linking clients to editors.
From the site, you can get high-paying online editing jobs from different clients.
As a freelance writer or editor, this could indeed become one of your favorite sites for hunting editing jobs.
Scribendi
Scribendi offers you an opportunity to offer proofreading services to clients using their platform.
This site requires you to have a degree and at least three years experience in editing.
You should also be able to proofread at a speed of 1,000 to 1,500 words per hour. Moreover, you must have high-speed internet access.
The site will pay you in US dollars via PayPal ONLY.
FlexJobs
FlexJobs is a job board with a dedicated section where you can get online editing jobs.
FlexJobs screens all the jobs for scam before approving and listing them. Indeed, all the job opportunities you get here are legit.
But there’s a catch. You will need to pay a monthly fee of $15. The membership fee allows you to get access to numerous remote editing tasks.
The membership fee, however, has a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t intend to renew your subscription, you can ask for your money back.
ProofreadingServices
ProofreadingServices offers both part-time and full-time remote online proofreading jobs.
It’s among the job boards that offer competitive rates. Here, you earn about $19 and $46 per hour, depending on the turnaround time.
To become part of their team, you will have to pass a 20-minute screening test.
Why Not Start Your Own Online Editing Business?
You will get real money in remote editing if you can start your own proofreading business.
With your own proofreading business, you can set your own rates, build a client base of your own, and work for different companies.
That way, you will have blown off the cap on your earnings.
Visit Small Revolution now to get started.
