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Freelance Manuscript Editing Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Concordia Publishing House

Oversee any freelance copyeditor who has been signed up to help with this. * Read developed ... Put edited manuscript into electronic layout files. * Review page sets to ensure everything is in ...

Hachette Book Group

Production Editor

New York, NY

$62K - $66K/yr

Manage 20-25 original titles per year from manuscript transmittal to bound book using electronic ... Hire and supervise freelance copyeditors, proofreaders, and indexers, and review their work

Hachette Book Group

Production Editor

New York, NY

$62K - $66K/yr

Manage 20-25 original titles per year from manuscript transmittal to bound book using electronic ... Hire and supervise freelance copyeditors, proofreaders, and indexers, and review their work

Hachette Book Group

Production Editor

New York, NY · On-site

$62K - $66K/yr

Manage 20-25 original titles per year from manuscript transmittal to bound book using electronic ... Hire and supervise freelance copyeditors, proofreaders, and indexers, and review their work

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How much do freelance manuscript editing jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 11, 2026, the average hourly pay for freelance manuscript editing in the United States is $62.54, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $60.34 and $68.27 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Freelance Manuscript Editing job?

A Freelance Manuscript Editing job involves reviewing and refining written manuscripts for clarity, grammar, style, and coherence. Freelance editors work independently, often for authors, publishers, or academic institutions, to enhance the quality of a manuscript before publication. They may focus on different levels of editing, such as developmental editing, copyediting, or proofreading, depending on the needs of the project.

What types of clients and manuscripts do freelance manuscript editors typically work with?

Freelance manuscript editors can work with a broad range of clients, including independent authors, academic researchers, publishing companies, and businesses creating technical documents. The manuscripts you may edit can range from novels and non-fiction books to academic journal articles, grant proposals, or business reports, depending on your area of expertise. Client needs can vary widely, making flexibility and the ability to adapt your editing style essential. This diversity provides opportunities to build a specialized portfolio while expanding your skill set across different writing genres.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Freelance Manuscript Editing position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Freelance Manuscript Editor, you need exceptional command of grammar, style, and structure, along with attention to detail and a background in English, communications, or a related field. Familiarity with editing software (such as Microsoft Word Track Changes), citation styles (APA, Chicago, MLA), and style guides is highly valuable. Strong time management, adaptability, and client communication skills help editors excel in a remote, deadline-driven environment. These abilities ensure high-quality, polished manuscripts that meet client expectations and industry standards.

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Freelance Manuscript Editing jobs near you
Manuscript Editing Coordinator II (Hybrid)

Manuscript Editing Coordinator II (Hybrid)

American Medical Association

Chicago, IL • On-site

$74K - $98K/yr

Full-time

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Manuscript Operations Specialist II (Hybrid)
Chicago, IL
The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), published continuously since 1883, is an international peer-reviewed general medical journal. JAMA is a member of the JAMA Network family of journals, which includes 11 specialty journals and JAMA Network Open. The JAMA Network provides access to the research, reviews, and opinions shaping the future of medicine.
At AMA, our mission to improve the health of the nation starts with our people. We foster an inclusive, people-first culture where every employee is empowered to perform at their best. Together, we advance meaningful change in health care and the communities we serve.
We encourage and support professional development for our employees, and we are dedicated to social responsibility. We invite you to learn more about us and we look forward to getting to know you.
We have an opportunity at our corporate offices in Chicago for a Manuscript Operations Specialist II (Hybrid) on our Scientific Publication team. This is a hybrid position reporting into our Chicago, IL office, requiring 3 days a week in the office.
This role will review, critique, and process scientific articles editedby freelance manuscript editors.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Review scientific manuscripts edited by freelance manuscript editors and evaluate the proficiency of each copyeditor and copyreader.
  • Ensure manuscripts comply with standards for published scientific research.
  • Assist freelance manuscript editors in improving the quality of reporting and ensuring clarity, precision, readability, technical and structural accuracy, and integrity of content.
  • Maintain strict attention to AMA style, editorial policies, and publication deadlines, including new or changed guidance for editors.
  • Follow up on queries and problems noted by copyreaders, proofreaders, and managing editors.
  • Move content through editing and production cleanly and quickly and within deadlines to prepare for publication, updating the content management system at each stage.
  • Alert managing editors to all major editorial problems, including ones that could lead to a change in publication date.
  • Investigate errors in published articles and ensure that the error is corrected.
  • Edits technical medical articles, abstracts, and features (including tables, equations, graphs, and citations) using an XML-based electronic publishing system to improve the quality of reporting and ensure clarity, accuracy, precision, readability, technical and scientific accuracy, and integrity of content while maintaining strict conformity to AMA style, editorial policies, and deadlines. Addresses author questions and resolves conflicts between author requests and editorial policies and technical production capability; understands editorial policies and communicates them correctly to authors.

May include other responsibilities as assigned
REQUIREMENTS:
  1. Bachelor's degree required, preferably in English, journalism, communications, biological or physical sciences, or mathematics.
  2. Minimum 3 years of related experience as a copyeditor for a medical, scientific, or technical publication.
  3. Must have excellent communication and negotiation skills to interact with freelance copyeditors, copyreaders, authors, and staff to meet editorial and publication deadlines; prior experience preferred.
  4. Familiarity with AMA Manual of Style, electronic editing software, web-based content management systems, and an email-intensive environment is strongly preferred, and experience using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
  5. Demonstrated ability to coordinate, prioritize, review other's work, and remains flexible in a fast-paced, detail- and deadline-oriented unit.
  6. Must be able to work independently and to withstand pressures involved in meeting publication deadlines.

The American Medical Association is located at 330 N. Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611 and is convenient to all public transportation in Chicago.
This role is an exempt position, and the salary range for this position is $74,160-$98,318. This is the lowest to highest salary we believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee's pay within the salary range will be determined by a variety of factors including but not limited to business consideration and geographical location, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience. Employees are also eligible to participate in an incentive plan. To learn more about the American Medical Association's benefits offerings, please click here.
We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity in our workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. As an EOE/AA employer, the American Medical Association will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and veteran or disability status.
THE AMA IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF THE NATION
American Medical Association logo

About American Medical Association

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Founded in 1847, the American Medical Association (AMA) is the largest and only national association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders. Throughout history, the AMA has always followed its mission: to promote the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health. As the physicians’ powerful ally in patient care, the AMA delivers on this mission by representing physicians with a unified voice in courts and legislative bodies across the nation, removing obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises, and driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in health care and training the leaders of tomorrow.

Industry

Health care and social assistance

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Chicago, IL, US

Year founded

1847

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