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Academic Editor Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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Academic Editor information

See California salary details

$11

$31

$56

How much do academic editor jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 1, 2026, the average hourly pay for academic editor in California is $31.19, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.11 and $39.13 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Academic Editor position, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Academic Editor, you need expertise in academic writing, subject matter familiarity, meticulous attention to detail, and often an advanced degree relevant to the field. Familiarity with style guides like APA, MLA, or Chicago, as well as reference management tools and editorial workflow systems, is typically required. Strong communication, time management, and adaptability are key soft skills that enhance performance in this role. These competencies enable editors to ensure manuscripts meet rigorous scholarly standards while supporting authors and adhering to deadlines.

How much do academic editors make?

Academic editors typically earn between $30,000 and $80,000 annually, depending on experience, education, and the complexity of the subjects they edit. Freelance editors may charge per hour or per project, with rates ranging from $25 to $75 per hour. Many academic editors work remotely and require strong editing skills and familiarity with style guides like APA or Chicago Manual of Style.

Are editors still in demand?

Academic editors are still in demand due to ongoing needs for quality assurance in research, publishing, and education. They often work freelance or for publishing companies, requiring strong language skills and familiarity with editing tools; demand remains steady across various disciplines.

Do you need a PhD to be a journal editor?

Academic editors at scholarly journals typically hold a PhD or equivalent advanced degree in their field, along with strong editing and subject matter expertise. While a PhD is common, some editors with extensive experience and a master's degree may also qualify, depending on the journal's requirements and the subject area. Professional editing skills and familiarity with publishing standards are also important for the role.

What does an Academic Editor do?

An Academic Editor reviews and improves scholarly manuscripts for clarity, accuracy, and adherence to publication standards. They check for proper grammar, structure, and citation accuracy, often working with authors to ensure the quality of academic content before publication.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of an Academic Editor?

An Academic Editor’s daily tasks typically involve reviewing and editing manuscripts for clarity, grammar, and adherence to specific style guidelines, while ensuring accurate citation and proper structure. Editors also provide constructive feedback to authors to improve the quality and integrity of academic content. Collaboration with researchers, peer reviewers, and sometimes production teams is common, as is managing multiple projects with tight deadlines. If the role is within a publishing house or journal, there may also be responsibilities related to coordinating the peer review process. This variety makes the job dynamic, intellectually stimulating, and crucial for maintaining publication standards.

What does an Academic Editor do?

An Academic Editor reviews, edits, and refines scholarly manuscripts to improve clarity, coherence, and adherence to publication standards. They ensure that research papers, journal articles, and academic books meet high-quality language and formatting requirements. Academic Editors may also provide constructive feedback to authors, verify citations, and ensure compliance with style guides such as APA or MLA. Their role helps researchers effectively communicate their findings and increases the chances of publication in academic journals.

What are the most commonly searched types of Academic Editor jobs in California? The most popular types of Academic Editor jobs in California are:
What job categories do people searching Academic Editor jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Academic Editor jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Academic Editor jobs? Cities in California with the most Academic Editor job openings:
Infographic showing various Academic Editor job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 33% Full Time, and 67% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $64,867 per year, or $31.2 per hour.

Hiring Freelance Academic Editors

Crimson Interactive

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 29 days ago


Job description

Company Description
Crimson Interactive is an ISO-certified organization (ISO 9001:2008) providing Japanese and English language solutions to customers globally. Our brands deliver services in three professional areas:
• Editing (www.enago.com)
• Translation (www.ulatus.com)
• Transcription (www.voxtab.com)
Since our inception in 2005, we have moved from strength to strength and now have a team of several hundred translators operating all over the globe. We also successfully partnered with Japan's largest Academic Publisher, Maruzen, and the second largest publisher in the world, Dai Nippon Publishing (DNP), for their editorial and translation needs.
Crimson is a company where cultures across boundaries thrive together. We have Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, Taiwanese, and Indians working for a common objective. We have clients in various geographies-Japan, China, Taiwan, Germany, Korea, the US, UK, etc.
Please do visit http://www.crimsoni.com/crimson-videos.htm to watch some videos about "Life at Crimson" and "Expats working at Crimson".
Job Description
.Job description
We are looking for experienced copy editors & substantive editors in Physics, Engineering and Medicine with a core academic background.
Qualities we look for in our freelance editors:
  • Proficiency and competence in the most widely spoken language across the world-English!
  • Knack for diligently editing, restructuring, and polishing articles written by non-native speakers, with least 5 years of relevant copyediting/academic editing experience
  • Extensive subject matter expertise

We prefer editor profiles that reflect
  • Research experience (studies conducted, papers written/published, papers reviewed, etc.)
  • Certificate/experience in academic editing, publishing, scientific communication, and journal article writing
  • Extensive experience in editing ESL (English as a Second Language) manuscripts
  • Knowledge of the style (such as APA, CMS, AMA, CSE, IEEE) and conventions followed in academic writing
  • Member of acclaimed editing and publishing associations such as EFA, EASE, BELS

A glimpse at what you would edit:
You will be assigned papers of varying difficulty levels (in terms of English, subject matter expertise, and the extent of revision needed) written by non-native speakers in either English or their native language (translated papers). These papers written by what we believe constitute an eclectic group of authors and writers, i.e., we receive work from not only scientists, researchers, and students but also corporates, linguists, and the common man trying to communicate in English--from the latest in cutting-edge technology to the timeless fascination with history and arts!
Our freelance editors should ensure:
  • Immaculate grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and word choice
  • Flow, transition, correct terminology, correctness of content, and coherence
  • Appropriate manuscript format* that conforms to academic conventions in terms of citation style, layout, section headings, and tense usage
  • Preservation of the author's intended meaning even in papers where the content requires extensive revision *Freelance editors also thoroughly format the manuscript as per mentioned journal guidelines when clients opt for our journal formatting service.

Enago will ensure
  • Possibility of a guaranteed monthly income while freelancing:Apart from offering work in the typical freelancing manner, we also offer opportunities that guarantee a minimum monthly/annual income, along with the possibility of an additional annual bonus (monetary), based on your performance.
  • A smooth performance-driven progression curve with an effective feedback mechanism: This ensures that the expectation mismatch is nearly zero. In the past, the strong professional bonding with our freelance editors has also led to mutual recommendations-a definite plus factor!
  • A rewarding experience, both monetarily and intellectually: You will get the opportunity to apply your domain knowledge and skills to help non-native authors present their work to the world through esteemed journals and renowned conferences, with the flexibility of timings dedicated to editing.

Qualifications
Additional Information
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.