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Freelance Scientific Editor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The New York Times

Senior Staff Editor, Well

New York, NY · On-site

$124K - $135K/yr

The Times Well desk is seeking a senior staff editor to edit our weekly newsletter and other ... Experience supervising beat reporters and freelancers. * Science-literate with a proven ability to ...

National Academy of Sciences

Editor

Washington, DC · On-site

$73K - $92K/yr

May network with prospective authors, scientific advisers, and news media. * Advises staff and ... May coordinate freelance activities in the unit, including finding and coordinating work among ...

Globalspec, LLC

GlobalSpec Group Editor - Electronics

$100 - $120K/hr

Founded by scientists, CompareNetworks is a leading provider of online B2B marketplaces for the ... You write clearly, edit ruthlessly and hold your own work - and your freelancers' work - to the ...

Psychiatry

Senior Editor, Books

Washington, DC · On-site

$76 - $87/hr

Manages, reviews, and oversees the work of freelance copyeditors, proofreaders, and indexers ... Verifies scientific nomenclature for accuracy and consistency. Resolves discrepancies and errors in ...

Psychiatry

$76 - $87/hr

Manages, reviews, and oversees the work of freelance copyeditors, proofreaders, and indexers ... Verifies scientific nomenclature for accuracy and consistency. Resolves discrepancies and errors in ...

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How much do freelance scientific editor jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 28, 2026, the average hourly pay for freelance scientific editor in the United States is $31.60, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.39 and $39.66 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a freelance scientific editor?

Freelance scientific editors are professionals who work independently to review, edit, and improve scientific manuscripts, research papers, grant proposals, and other academic documents. They help authors ensure that their work is clearly written, logically organized, and adheres to the required formatting and language standards of scientific journals or institutions. Freelance scientific editors often have advanced degrees in scientific fields and strong experience in academic publishing. They may work directly with researchers, universities, publishers, or editing companies, offering flexible services on a project-by-project basis.

What does a freelance scientific editor do?

As a freelance scientific editor, your duties include reviewing scientific manuscripts and research for publication, reviewing abstractions for oral presentations, querying authors about issues or missing information, and consulting with publishers and other editors about publication guidelines. If you work for scientific magazines, you commission articles, prepare layouts, fact check articles, and handle payment for writers. Magazine editors also have managerial responsibilities, including overseeing proofreaders and copy editors. If you work for a science publisher or a technical journal, your responsibilities include making sure papers are accurate, sending documents to experts (or referees) for analysis, and helping authors to edit their manuscript for publication.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a freelance scientific editor?

To thrive as a Freelance Scientific Editor, you need a strong background in scientific research, excellent command of English, and experience with academic writing or editing, often supported by an advanced degree in a scientific field. Familiarity with style guides (e.g., APA, AMA), reference management tools, and manuscript submission systems is typically required. Exceptional attention to detail, time management, and effective communication with authors and publishers are crucial soft skills. These skills ensure scientific accuracy, clarity, and timely delivery of high-quality manuscripts, which are vital for publication success.

How does a freelance scientific editor typically collaborate with researchers and publishers during the editing process?

Freelance Scientific Editors frequently work closely with researchers, authors, and journal publishers to ensure scientific manuscripts meet publication standards. Communication is often done via email or online platforms, where editors provide detailed feedback on clarity, structure, and adherence to journal guidelines. Editors may also clarify scientific concepts with authors and coordinate with publishers to address formatting or language issues. Successful collaboration hinges on clear communication, timely feedback, and an understanding of the scientific publishing process.

What is the difference between Freelance Scientific Editor vs Scientific Writer?

AspectFreelance Scientific EditorScientific Writer
CredentialsAdvanced degrees in science, editing certificationsAdvanced degrees, writing experience
Work EnvironmentRemote, freelance basis, client projectsRemote or in-house, project-based or ongoing
Employer/Industry UsagePublishing, research institutions, freelance platformsResearch organizations, publishers, biotech firms
Search/Comparison IntentEditing skills, scientific accuracy, publication supportWriting skills, research communication, content creation

Freelance Scientific Editors focus on reviewing and refining scientific content for clarity, accuracy, and publication standards, often working independently. Scientific Writers create original scientific content, such as articles, reports, or proposals. While both roles require scientific expertise and advanced degrees, editors emphasize editing and proofreading, whereas writers concentrate on content creation. Understanding these differences helps clients find the right professional for their specific needs.

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Freelance Scientific Editor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Freelance Scientific Editor job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 75% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 22% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $65,728 per year, or $31.6 per hour.

Senior Staff Editor, Well

New York, NY

The New York Times
See more jobs at The New York Timesexternal

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 12 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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