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Freelance Development Editor Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

NPR

Deputy Managing Editor, Evenings

Culver City, CA

$160K - $175K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Supervises assignments and provides editorial guidance to staff, stations, freelance reporters and ... Well-developed interpersonal skills, ability to get along with diverse personalities. * Results ...

eJam

Creative Strategist

Santa Ana, CA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... development to performance optimization - working closely with video editors, graphic designers, a project manager, and freelance copywriters to produce high-volume, high-impact creative that drives ...

eJam

Creative Strategist

Santa Ana, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... development to performance optimization - working closely with video editors, graphic designers, a project manager, and freelance copywriters to produce high-volume, high-impact creative that drives ...

eJam

Creative Strategist

Santa Ana, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... from concept development to performance optimization -- working closely with video editors, graphic designers, a project manager, and freelance copywriters to produce high-volume, high-impact ...

NPR

Deputy Managing Editor, Evenings

Culver City, CA · On-site

$160K - $175K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Supervises assignments and provides editorial guidance to staff, stations, freelance reporters and ... Well-developed interpersonal skills, ability to get along with diverse personalities. * Results ...

NPR

Deputy Managing Editor, Evenings

Culver City, CA · On-site

$160K - $175K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Supervises assignments and provides editorial guidance to staff, stations, freelance reporters and ... Well-developed interpersonal skills, ability to get along with diverse personalities. * Results ...

Ride Aventon

Creative Producer

Brea, CA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... editors, photographers, DPs, creators, motion designers, and freelance talent. * Identify ... Experience contributing to creative development, campaign ideation, script writing, creative ...

Ride Aventon

Creative Producer

Brea, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... editors, photographers, DPs, creators, motion designers, and freelance talent. * Identify ... Experience contributing to creative development, campaign ideation, script writing, creative ...

Socure

Senior Video Storyteller

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$125K - $150K/yr

About the role We're hiring a Senior Video Storyteller to own the vision, quality, and development ... Post-production quality: editing, motion, sound, color, and versioning across cuts and formats. The ...

Ride Aventon

Creative Producer

Brea, CA

$80K - $120K/yr

... editors, photographers, DPs, creators, motion designers, and freelance talent. * Identify ... Experience contributing to creative development, campaign ideation, script writing, creative ...

Fox

Senior Producer, Social

Los Angeles, CA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

They possess deep expertise in social content creation, video editing, audience development, and ... While responsible for managing a team of producers, editors, and freelancers, the Senior Social ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsDevelopment Editor JobsFreelance Development Editor JobsFreelance Development Editor Jobs in California

Freelance Development Editor information

See California salary details

$48.9K

$81.3K

$96.7K

How much do freelance development editor jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for freelance development editor in California is $81,273.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $56,700.00 and $95,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a freelance development editor do?

A Freelance Development Editor helps authors refine their manuscripts by focusing on structure, clarity, coherence, and overall effectiveness. They provide feedback on elements like plot, pacing, character development, and argument strength, depending on the type of writing. Unlike copy editors, they concentrate on big-picture issues rather than grammar and syntax. Working independently, they collaborate with writers, publishers, or businesses on a project basis to improve content. Their goal is to enhance the manuscript’s impact and readability before it moves to the next stage of editing.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be a freelance development editor?

To thrive as a Freelance Development Editor, you need expertise in substantive editing, a keen eye for story structure, and a firm grasp of grammar and style, usually supported by a background in English, journalism, or publishing. Familiarity with editing tools such as Microsoft Word (track changes), Google Docs, and project management platforms is common, while certification from organizations like the Editorial Freelancers Association can be beneficial. Excellent communication, time management, and the ability to give and receive constructive feedback are standout soft skills in this role. These abilities are essential for ensuring manuscript quality, meeting client expectations, and managing multiple projects efficiently in a freelance environment.

What are some typical challenges faced by freelance development editors?

Freelance Development Editors often juggle multiple projects and clients simultaneously, which requires strong organizational and time management skills. Challenges may include navigating differing author expectations, tight deadlines, and the need for clear communication while working remotely. Since you may work with clients around the world, adapting your approach to fit diverse genres, styles, and publishing standards is important. Overcoming these challenges helps you build a solid reputation and maintain steady workflow in the competitive freelancing market.

What are the most commonly searched types of Development Editor jobs in California?

The most popular types of Development Editor jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Freelance Development Editor jobs in California?

For Freelance Development Editor jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Freelance Development Editor jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Freelance Development Editor jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Freelance Development Editor jobs?

Cities in California with the most Freelance Development Editor job openings:

Freelance Development Editor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Freelance Development Editor job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $81,273 per year, or $39.1 per hour.

Senior Director, Business & Industry

Condé Nast

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 20 days ago

Job description

WIRED is where a better future is imagined. For three decades, we have been the indispensable guide to a world in constant transformation. We cover humanity's biggest challenges, from climate change to global security, from pandemic preparedness to the future of democracy, and tell stories of the people trying to solve these challenges and the role science and technology can play-for good or ill. WIRED reaches more than 30 million people each month through WIRED.com, our digital edition, the magazine, social media, and live events.
Job Description
Location:
San Francisco, CA
Senior Director, Business & Industry
Location: San Francisco
Overview
WIRED is seeking an experienced editor to lead our business coverage. Reporting to WIRED's executive editor, this is a senior management position with oversight of 10+ reporters and editors across our US and UK teams.
In this role, you will be responsible for both the big picture and the smaller details. Working with WIRED's senior leadership, you'll develop and constantly iterate on editorial strategies that will deliver results across coverage areas; you'll develop coverage plans around tech companies, personalities, and events, and you'll manage a budget and a freelance roster. You'll be responsible for working with senior editors on your team to implement your strategies and plans, and partnering closely with audience development to maximize the reach and impact of the journalism you oversee. You'll also collaborate frequently with WIRED's digital video team to execute cross-platform coverage that brings the best of WIRED to platforms including YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram Reels.
To be successful in this position you should have extensive knowledge of the tech industry's major and upcoming players, and a demonstrated history of leading teams that break news. The ideal candidate should have an informed view of the power of big platforms, the impact of artificial intelligence, the future of work, and other key areas of our coverage. We're less interested in earnings reports than getting inside pivotal companies and exploring their influence. On a tactical level, we're looking for someone who is a strategic, empathetic, and collaborative leader: Since you'll be managing both editors and writers, you need to know when to lean in and when to delegate, and how to motivate a team; given the cross-border and cross-functional nature of this role, you'll also need to work effectively with other members of the WIRED team and partners across Conde Nast. Ultimately, you'll be responsible for the success of WIRED's Business section as measured by audience size and engagement.
This position is a hybrid role, and candidates must be based out of a WIRED office in San Francisco or New York.
Primary/Ongoing Responsibilities:
  • Conceive of, pitch, and develop content strategy and planning for WIRED's Business section.
  • Work with senior leadership to define goals and priorities for your respective areas, ensuring all content plans ladder up to broader brand goals and objectives.
  • Proactively seek out interesting, diverse voices who can help WIRED deliver differentiated business and industry coverage.
  • Partner with audience development to review audience engagement KPIs and use this data to consistently improve content strategy and output.
  • Manage all projects from concept to execution including, but not limited to: Assigning, tracking, and editing stories from staff and freelancers; budgeting; partnering with photo/art teams on visuals and design to accompany stories; answering fact-checking and copy queries; seeing stories through production processes; and partnering with social and/or video teams to ensure stories have maximum impact.
  • Meet individual and/or section KPIs as assigned (i.e. productivity expectations, UPVs, engagement, time spent, and/or other related goals).
  • Identify and work collaboratively with global markets on all relevant stories or packages.
  • Lead, mentor, and manage a team of editors and reporters across the US and UK including, but not limited to: Overseeing hiring, talent development, and performance management for direct reports; implementing clear processes and communication channels for the desk; delegating work across the desk and providing clear direction and constructive feedback; fostering a transparent, respectful, inclusive, and collaborative team environment.
  • Contribute to brand extensions, social platforms, and additional projects as needed.
  • Represent the brand in a public-facing way as necessary, such as on social media, in press opportunities, panels and speaking engagements, and internal company presentations.
  • Additional projects/stories as assigned.

Desired Qualifications:
  • At least 10 years of experience as an editor in a fast paced, digital, and news-driven environment, with at least 5 years managing others
  • A past portfolio of work that reflects significant experience covering the tech industry, including a consistent record of breaking news and having extensive sourcing
  • Experience overseeing multi-platform content from brainstorm to execution; able to balance daily deadlines with longer-lead projects and delegate as appropriate to maximize the team's impact
  • Experience and passion for delivering big, ambitious coverage, particularly around Big Tech, AI, and other core areas of focus
  • Skilled at helping editors conceptualize stories and work to get the best out of writers; equally adept at helping writers achieve their best reporting and writing. Able to structure a story for maximum impact, reader understanding, and engagement
  • Highly collaborative with excellent communication skills; adept at working with a diverse team of fact checkers, copy editors, designers, photo editors, digital producers, social media producers and story editors.
  • Excellent time management and prioritization skills

The expected base salary range for this position is from $145,000-$225,000. Salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including but not limited to relevant skills, training, experience, and education.
What happens next?
If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply below, and we will review your application as soon as possible. You can update your resume or upload a cover letter at any time by accessing your candidate profile.
Condé Nast is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, familial status and other legally protected characteristics.

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