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Acquisition Editor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Acquisitions Editor

Spring, TX · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

You will collaborate closely with cross-departmental teams to ensure each acquisition meets ... editing * Deep theological understanding aligned with The Daily Grace Co.'s statement of faith

Acquisitions Editor

Spring, TX · On-site

$60K - $75K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

You will collaborate closely with cross-departmental teams to ensure each acquisition meets ... editing * Deep theological understanding aligned with The Daily Grace Co.'s statement of faith

Acquisitions Editor

Spring, TX · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

You will collaborate closely with cross-departmental teams to ensure each acquisition meets ... editing * Deep theological understanding aligned with The Daily Grace Co.s statement of faith

Acquisitions Editor

Spring, TX · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

You will collaborate closely with cross-departmental teams to ensure each acquisition meets ... editing * Deep theological understanding aligned with The Daily Grace Co.'s statement of faith

Assistant Acquisitions Editor

Spring, TX · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Assistant Acquisitions Editor Location: Hybrid (Not remote, must work 20 hours per week on-site in ... Help draft acquisition summaries and recommendations for leadership review * Assist with preparing ...

Required : • At least 3-4 years of book acquisition, content development, marketing, and/or sales experience, preferably in higher education textbook publishing. • Prior experience delivering ...

Editor, Del Rey (Open to Remote)

Manhattan, NY · On-site +1

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Editor will acquire 10-12 titles per year with an emphasis on commercial genre fiction with a ... Actively solicit and evaluate potential acquisitions purposefully and strategically, with a clear ...

Editor, Del Rey (Open to Remote)

Manhattan, NY · On-site +1

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Editor will acquire 10-12 titles per year with an emphasis on commercial genre fiction with a ... Actively solicit and evaluate potential acquisitions purposefully and strategically, with a clear ...

Serves as Acquisitions Editor, responsible for reading a high volume of book proposals and manuscripts, conducting preliminary reviews independently, gauging stylistic and substantive problems, and ...

Managing Editor K-12

Tinley Park, IL

$80K - $100K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Managing Editor K-12 Hybrid Goodheart-Willcox Publisher , Experts in Career and Technical Education ... Working with acquisition team, this role is responsible for list and product strategy and planning ...

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Acquisition Editor information

See salary details

$11K

$59.6K

$65K

How much do acquisition editor jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for acquisition editor in the United States is $59,622.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $58,000.00 and $60,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Acquisition Editor vs Content Editor?

AspectAcquisition EditorContent Editor
Primary RoleSecures new content, evaluates submissions, and acquires publishing rights.Revises, edits, and improves existing content for clarity and quality.
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with authors, agents, and publishers during acquisition process.Works closely with authors and production teams on manuscript editing.
Required SkillsStrong negotiation, industry knowledge, and editorial judgment.Editing, proofreading, and content development skills.

While both roles involve editing and industry knowledge, Acquisition Editors focus on acquiring new content and negotiating deals, whereas Content Editors concentrate on refining and improving existing manuscripts. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths and employer expectations in publishing.

What is an acquisition editor?

Acquisition editors are publishing professionals responsible for identifying, evaluating, and acquiring new manuscripts or book proposals for publication. They review submissions, assess their market potential, and work closely with authors to develop their projects. Acquisition editors also negotiate contracts and coordinate with other departments, such as marketing and production, to bring books to market successfully. Their goal is to build a strong and profitable publishing list by selecting works that align with the publisher's vision and market demand.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an acquisition editor?

To thrive as an Acquisition Editor, you need a strong background in publishing, literary evaluation, and market analysis, often supported by a relevant degree and experience in editorial roles. Familiarity with manuscript tracking systems, content management platforms, and contract management tools is typically required. Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills help you identify promising authors and projects while collaborating with internal teams. These competencies are crucial for acquiring high-quality content that meets market demands and drives publishing success.

How much do acquisition editors make?

Acquisition editors typically earn between $50,000 and $80,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the size of the publishing company. Senior or specialized acquisition editors can earn over $100,000. Compensation may also include benefits such as bonuses and health insurance.

How do you become an acquisition editor?

To become an acquisition editor, typically one needs a bachelor's degree in publishing, communications, or a related field, along with experience in editing, publishing, or literary agent work. Strong communication, negotiation skills, and knowledge of the publishing industry are essential, and familiarity with editing tools like Microsoft Word or editing software can be beneficial. Entry often involves starting in editorial assistant roles before progressing to acquisition positions.

What are some common challenges faced by acquisition editors when evaluating new manuscripts?

Acquisition Editors often encounter the challenge of balancing market trends with the publisher's editorial vision while assessing new manuscripts. They must carefully evaluate the commercial potential and originality of submissions, sometimes making tough decisions when a manuscript is promising but not a perfect fit for their list. Additionally, they frequently juggle multiple projects and tight deadlines, requiring strong organizational and communication skills to coordinate between authors, agents, and internal teams. Building and maintaining relationships with authors and agents is also crucial, as it ensures a steady pipeline of quality submissions.
More about Acquisition Editor jobs
What cities are hiring for Acquisition Editor jobs? Cities with the most Acquisition Editor job openings:
What states have the most Acquisition Editor jobs? States with the most job openings for Acquisition Editor jobs include:
Infographic showing various Acquisition Editor job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $59,622 per year, or $28.7 per hour.

Developmental Editor

Manning Publications Co

Shelter Island, NY • On-site

Part-time

Re-posted 8 days ago


Job description

Company Description

Manning Publication publishes books for technology professionals including programmers, system administrators, designers, architects, managers and others. We care about the quality of our books, and we think of our authors as the most valuable part of our business. We work with our authors to coax out of them the best writing they can produce. We consult with technical experts on book proposals and manuscripts, and we may use as many as two dozen reviewers in various stages of preparing a manuscript. The abilities of each author are nurtured to encourage him or her to write a first-rate book.

Job Description

Developmental editor

Manning Publications Co. seeks Developmental Editors to work directly with book authors to create high-quality manuscripts on time. Ideal candidates are critical thinkers who skillfully identify and articulate weaknesses in a manuscript's organization and writing, adopt a coaching/mentoring role with authors, firmly but diplomatically communicate with authors, work both independently and in a distributed team environment, and reliably meet deadlines. Candidates must possess passing knowledge of software concepts and technologies (such as mobile application development, responsive design, cloud computing, big data and analytics, and agile and lean development). This is a great position for someone looking for part-time work (15-20 hours a week).

Primary duties

  • Coach authors on techniques for how to teach difficult or important concepts in their manuscript
  • Identify opportunities for authors to improve organization, presentation, clarity, and value to the book's intended audience
  • Continually assess manuscript content at a high level
  • Manage the book-development process so that authors are completing manuscripts by due dates
  • Ensure that manuscripts adhere to Manning's writing guidelines
  • Provide project status and content assessment to publisher, acquisition editor, development manager and other Manning staff
  • Contribute to the ongoing assessment and improvement of editorial procedures and standards
  • Perform occasional tasks related to the marketing of books

Please note: This position does not include copy editing duties

Must have requirements

  • General understanding of technical concepts, software development, and current industry trends
  • 1+ years previous substantive editing experience
  • Must be available for a minimum of 20 hours per week (primarily during U.S. business hours).
  • Strong project- and time-management skills
  • Excellent organization and multitasking skills
  • Must be proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.), Adobe Acrobat, and other tools required in an online environment.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills; comfortable communicating via email, Skype, and phone
  • Must have remote office setup (computer, Internet and email access, reliable phone line)

Preferred qualifications

Previous experience in a book publishing environment

Additional Information

Apply for this position

Email your resume and two references with job DE-2018-8 in the subject line. If selected for an interview, be prepared to complete an editing sample. This is a freelance, telecommute opportunity (no travel).