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Freelance Development Editor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Valnet Inc.

Senior Tech Editor

Dallas, TX · On-site +1

Lead and support a team of freelance writers, providing consistent editorial feedback and guidance ... Identify strong contributors, development opportunities, and writers ready for additional ...

Valnet Tech Sites

Senior Tech Editor

Dallas, TX · Remote

Lead and support a team of freelance writers, providing consistent editorial feedback and guidance ... Identify strong contributors, development opportunities, and writers ready for additional ...

American

Managing Editor, IRW

Campus, IL · On-site

Interview and hire freelance reporters and editors as needed, as well as design and web development contractors. * Manage relationships with external professional partners in other newsrooms through ...

AOPA

Senior Editor, ASI

Frederick, MD · On-site

The Senior Editor plays a critical role in advancing the Air Safety Institute's (ASI) mission to ... Freelance Management/Mentorship & Development (5%) Leads the recruitment, onboarding, and ...

AOPA

Senior Editor, ASI

Frederick, MD · On-site

The Senior Editor plays a critical role in advancing the Air Safety Institute's (ASI) mission to ... Freelance Management/Mentorship & Development (5%) Leads the recruitment, onboarding, and ...

The Daily Meal

Drink Channel Editor

Manhattan, NY · On-site

... freelance contributors Working with the social and audience development teams to help promote ... with the photo editor to maintain a high quality of images and overall look of the channel ...

The Daily Meal

Drink Channel Editor

Manhattan, NY

... freelance contributors Working with the social and audience development teams to help promote ... with the photo editor to maintain a high quality of images and overall look of the channel ...

The New York Times

Senior Staff Editor, Well

New York, NY · On-site

$124K - $135K/yr

You will supervise beat reporters and develop a stable of freelance contributors. * You will ... development programs. For roles outside of the U.S., information on benefits will be provided ...

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Freelance Development Editor information

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$82.4K

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How much do freelance development editor jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for freelance development editor in the United States is $82,351.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $57,500.00 and $97,000.00 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.

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Freelance Development Editor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Freelance Development Editor job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $82,351 per year, or $39.6 per hour.

Senior Staff Editor, Well

The New York Times

New York, NY

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 16 days ago

Job description

The Times Well desk is seeking a senior staff editor to edit our weekly newsletter and other reporting about health and wellness. This role is a key position on the team, requiring an editor who has experience working with reporters and freelancers and has a proven track record in health coverage.

You will supervise reporters and assign and edit across many story forms, including news, reported features, visual pieces and profiles. Your work will be timely and ambitious. You should be able to connect the dots and spot trends before our competitors do, and shape stories that have perspective and authority. Your assignments should start conversations. You should have tons of ideas and a willingness to experiment.

Your work will support Well's mission to use evidence-based journalism to explore important issues in health and to help people live healthier and more fulfilling lives.

This role requires high productivity, attention to detail, meeting deadlines and the ability to work seamlessly with other editors on the desk. You are joining a successful team that thrives in part because we're highly collaborative and we embrace constant change and opportunity.

This is an in-office position, based in New York City and includes regular attendance in the office four days each week. There may be some flexibility to work remotely per your departmental guidance.

Responsibilities:

  • You will conceive, assign and edit articles, serving as a first editor on several stories per week.
  • You will supervise beat reporters and develop a stable of freelance contributors.
  • You will provide sophisticated second edits on stories as needed.
  • You will manage the digital life of stories, including writing engaging headlines, summaries and captions for digital presentation and promotion across platforms.
  • You will collaborate with our art team.
  • You will meet tight deadlines and juggle multiple priorities expertly.
  • You have strong communication and organizational skills.
  • You are collaborative, collegial and flexible.
  • You will abide by The Times's Code of Conduct and exemplify our Values and Behaviors.
  • Demonstrate support and understanding of our value of journalistic independence and a strong commitment to our mission to seek the truth and help people understand the world.
  • You will report to the Deputy Editor.

Basic Qualifications:

  • 7+ years of experience as a health, science or lifestyle journalist.
  • Significant editing experience, including a deep understanding of digital publishing.
  • Experience supervising beat reporters and freelancers.
  • Science-literate with a proven ability to parse and contextualize scientific research for a general-interest audience.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Passionate about news and service journalism.
  • Willingness to experiment and collaborate on the Well desk and across departments.

This position is represented by the NewsGuild of NY.

REQ-020405

Additional Compensation and Benefits

For roles in the U.S., dependent on your role, you may be eligible for variable pay, such as an annual bonus and restricted stock. Benefits may include medical, dental and vision benefits, Flexible Spending Accounts (F.S.A.s), a company-matching 401(k) plan, employee stock purchase plan, paid vacation, paid sick days, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement and professional development programs. 

For roles outside of the U.S., information on benefits will be provided during the interview process.

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