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Developmental Editing Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Senior Editor, Books

Washington, DC ยท On-site

$76K - $87K/yr

Provides editorial and project management support for the development, editing, and production of APAP products, including books, ebooks, mobile apps, and consolidations of content from existing ...

Director of Editorial Strategy

Washington, DC ยท On-site

$54K - $100K/yr

Skilled at developmental editing and helping others sharpen arguments, framing, and narrative flow * Strategic thinker who can synthesize complex ideas, identify patterns across issue areas, and ...

Essay Editing Tutor

Fairfax, VA ยท Remote

$40/hr

Deep knowledge of essay structure, thesis development, paragraph organization, transitions ... Emphasizes teaching self-editing skills and connects essay revision to academic success ...

Essay Editing Tutor

Bowie, MD ยท Remote

$40/hr

Deep knowledge of essay structure, thesis development, paragraph organization, transitions ... Emphasizes teaching self-editing skills and connects essay revision to academic success ...

Essay Editing Tutor

Laurel, MD ยท Remote

$40/hr

Deep knowledge of essay structure, thesis development, paragraph organization, transitions ... Emphasizes teaching self-editing skills and connects essay revision to academic success ...

Deep knowledge of essay structure, thesis development, paragraph organization, transitions ... Emphasizes teaching self-editing skills and connects essay revision to academic success ...

Deep knowledge of essay structure, thesis development, paragraph organization, transitions ... Emphasizes teaching self-editing skills and connects essay revision to academic success ...

Deep knowledge of essay structure, thesis development, paragraph organization, transitions ... Emphasizes teaching self-editing skills and connects essay revision to academic success ...

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Developmental Editing information

See Washington salary details

$12

$35

$65

How much do developmental editing jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for developmental editing in Washington is $35.79, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.23 and $44.90 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is developmental editing?

A Developmental Editing job involves evaluating the structure, content, and overall coherence of a manuscript to improve its clarity, organization, and impact. Developmental editors work closely with authors to refine story arcs, character development, pacing, and thematic consistency. Unlike copy editors, they focus on big-picture elements rather than grammar or syntax. This process is common in book publishing, particularly for fiction and nonfiction manuscripts. The goal is to help authors strengthen their work before it moves to the next stage of editing and publication.

What are typical challenges faced in developmental editing, and how do editors overcome them?

Developmental Editors often encounter challenges such as helping authors address major structural issues, balancing the author's voice with editorial recommendations, and managing tight deadlines. Overcoming these challenges requires clear and constructive feedback, patience, and strong project management skills to keep revisions on track. Editors also rely on regular communication with authors and other team members to ensure everyone is aligned throughout the editing process. Successfully navigating these challenges leads to a more polished and marketable manuscript while maintaining a positive author-editor relationship.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in developmental editing, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Developmental Editor, you need advanced skills in manuscript evaluation, story structure, and content organization, usually supported by a background in English, journalism, or a related field. Familiarity with editorial software such as Microsoft Word with Track Changes, Adobe Acrobat, and project management tools is important, and professional certifications from organizations like the Editorial Freelancers Association are a plus. Excellent communication, collaboration, and diplomacy are essential soft skills when guiding authors through major revisions. These abilities ensure effective manuscript improvement and foster positive relationships with writers and publishing teams.

What are the most commonly searched types of Developmental Editing jobs in Washington?

The most popular types of Developmental Editing jobs in Washington are:

What are popular job titles related to Developmental Editing jobs in Washington?

For Developmental Editing jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Developmental Editing job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, and 17% Part Time. Highlights an 64% In-person, 16% Hybrid, and 20% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $74,443 per year, or $35.8 per hour.

NIH Technical Writer/Editor (level 1)

Bethesda, MD โ€ข On-site

Key Concepts Knowledgebase LLC
Network Securityย โ€ขย 1 - 10 employees

Full-time

Re-posted 25 days ago


Job description

Key Concepts Knowledgebase, LLC., is seeking a Technical Writer/Editor for a project at a large government support organization. The successful candidate will work with our IT managers, engineers, technicians, and the client to ensure the expectations of both parties are fulfilled in a timely, cost-effective manner. The Technical Writer/Editor key responsibilities are as follows: Assist in writing and/or editing technical documents, business proposals, reports, user manuals, briefings/presentations, functional descriptions, system specifications, user guides, special reports and other deliverables to meet the program requirements

Develop outline and drafts for review and approval by technical specialist and project management ensuring final documents meets the program requirements. Research and gather technical/background information for inclusion in program documentation and deliverables. Consult/research relevant sources, library resources, technical/financial documents and project personnel to obtain the necessary information to ensure all program guidelines and deliverables are met.

Build and maintain various user aids such as online videos, presentations, guided tours, technical guides for existing and new applications/systems. Learn existing and new concepts and communicate the information succinctly to relevant personnel. Develop techniques to track and evaluate the understandability and effectiveness of all information created and distributed to the client via some type of feedback system.

Monitor metrics on training materials for identification on areas for improvement and create a report for the relevant authority. Perform the role of an editor for evaluation/editing of all technical or training documents produced by other team managers. Qualifications: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Must be detail-oriented, organized, and can work under tight deadlines.

Should have extensive experience in the IT service delivery environment as a technical writer with focus on document development, editing and presentations. Have knowledge of publication software such as (Adobe Robohelp, Madcap, Ektron, SDLpic etc.), Analytics platforms (Google Analytics, Matomo, Mixpanel etc.), Coding and scripting language (AJAX, BeanShell, CFML, GIT, JavaScript, Python). Very good understanding of owning an end-to-end document creation process


Key Concepts Knowledgebase logo

About Key Concepts Knowledgebase

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Key Concepts Knowledgebase, LLC is a Small DBE Business, and solutions-driven enterprise based in the DC area. The company is founded on the provision of quality services, creative business and IT solutions, and responsible business processes. Mission Statement: With a focus on transferring knowledge on key concepts in the process, we seek to provide our customers with the best of breed services and solutions, to solve their business problems and be part of initiatives that drive sustainable, green IT solutions.

Industry

Network security

Company size

1 - 10 Employees

Headquarters location

Fairfax, VA, US

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