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Freelance Technical Editor Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Red Carrot

Technical Director

Alexandria, VA · On-site

Coordinate with the editing team to ensure the recording of live broadcasts meets post-production ... Freelancer Coordination: * Identify the need for additional technical staff, such as cameramen or ...

Red Carrot

Technical Director

Alexandria, VA · On-site

Coordinate with the editing team to ensure the recording of live broadcasts meets post-production ... Freelancer Coordination: * Identify the need for additional technical staff, such as cameramen or ...

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Freelance Technical Editor information

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$39.6K

$81.3K

$128K

How much do freelance technical editor jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for freelance technical editor in Washington is $81,308.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $61,700.00 and $96,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a freelance technical editor?

A Freelance Technical Editor reviews, revises, and enhances technical documents to ensure clarity, accuracy, and consistency. They work on materials like manuals, reports, white papers, and online content, often collaborating with writers, engineers, or subject matter experts. Their responsibilities include checking for grammatical errors, improving readability, and ensuring adherence to industry standards or style guides. Since they work freelance, they typically manage multiple clients and projects independently.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a freelance technical editor?

To thrive as a Freelance Technical Editor, you should have strong technical writing and editing expertise, a background in relevant subject areas (such as engineering or IT), and excellent command of grammar and style. Familiarity with document management systems, style guides (such as the Chicago Manual of Style or Microsoft Manual of Style), and editing software like Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Word is often necessary. Outstanding attention to detail, time management, and the ability to communicate feedback clearly with clients or authors are vital soft skills. These capabilities ensure technical documents are accurate, clear, consistent, and tailored to specific audience needs in a deadline-driven freelance environment.

What are some common challenges faced by freelance technical editors, and how can they be managed?

Freelance Technical Editors often encounter the challenge of working with highly complex or unfamiliar subject matter, requiring quick learning and effective research abilities. Managing multiple projects with varying deadlines and client expectations can also be demanding, making strong organizational and communication skills essential. Additionally, freelancers may need to clarify ambiguous technical content with authors or subject matter experts, which requires tact and diplomacy. By building a reliable workflow, maintaining transparent communication, and continually updating technical knowledge, freelance editors can successfully navigate these challenges and deliver high-quality work.

What are the most commonly searched types of Technical Editor jobs in Washington?

The most popular types of Technical Editor jobs in Washington are:

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For Freelance Technical Editor jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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The top searched job categories for Freelance Technical Editor jobs in Washington are:

What cities in Washington are hiring for Freelance Technical Editor jobs?

Cities in Washington with the most Freelance Technical Editor job openings:

Freelance Technical Editor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Freelance Technical Editor job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 55% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 5% Temporary, and 23% Contract. Highlights an 75% In-person, 4% Hybrid, and 21% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $81,308 per year, or $39.1 per hour.

Senior Editor, Physics Today

American Institute of Physics Incorporated

College Park, MD • On-site

$101K - $112K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 15 days ago

Job description

Position Title: Senior Editor, Physics Today


WHO WE ARE:  Scientific discovery shapes our lives every day. And AIP, publisher of Physics Today, empowers the organizations and people that make those discoveries possible.

As a Federation, AIP advances the success of a community of more than 30 independent scientific organizations. They, in turn, support hundreds of thousands of professionals across many scientific and engineering disciplines. AIP creates shared spaces — forums, conversations, connections — where individual action among our Member Organizations becomes collective impact.

As an Institute, AIP preserves the history of discovery so the past can guide the future. We study how research is done, who participates, and what holds people back or propels them to succeed. Our findings inform policy, practice, and decision-making across the physical sciences. We are especially focused on the next generation of physical scientists and committed to ensuring talent from anywhere can thrive in our fields.

Humanity needs science. And science needs people and organizations working together to tackle our planet’s toughest challenges. Together, we can advance science, empower scientists, and ensure discovery continues to shape our lives.

We want you to become a part of our mission and join our dynamic team!


SUMMARY:  ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT PHYSICS? SKILLED AT STORYTELLING? EXPERIENCED IN EDITING? Join Physics Today, the world’s most influential physical-sciences publication, as a Senior Editor. The flagship publication of AIP, Physics Today is a trusted voice for the physical sciences. Through its accessible, engaging content, Physics Today serves as a unifying influence that bridges disciplinary boundaries and cultivates a shared understanding, appreciation, and sense of belonging. Physics Today keeps the community informed, stimulates conversation, and helps shape how the community sees itself.

In this role, you will lead the Physics Today editing team in honing longer-form content, written by subject-matter experts and by staff and freelance writers and spanning the full gamut of fields, to make the pieces relevant and engaging for more than 150,000 monthly website visitors and 100,000 magazine readers. Come leverage your graduate degree in physics (PhD preferred) and 8+ years of science writing and editing experience to create impactful content for Physics Today’s scientifically literate audience and connect with the global physical-sciences community. 


WHAT YOU’LL DO: 

  • Lead Physics Today’s team of editors in the substantive and line editing of longer-form content to produce clear, polished, and engaging final products that resonate with the audience.
  • Provide editorial oversight for editors and writers, especially for stories that delve deeply into the science of a field.
  • Help develop, implement, and hone Physics Today’s multiplatform editorial strategy.
  • Identify and evaluate story ideas about noteworthy and interesting developments and evergreen topics across the gamut of physical-science fields.
  • Work with the Visual Experience team and others to develop and incorporate a broad palette of visuals and other media that enhance the reader experience, taking full, creative advantage of digital storytelling opportunities. 
  • Author content, as needed, with exceptional narrative flair and technical proficiency.
  • Mentor junior staff on writing and editing.
  • Foster a creative environment where new ideas are encouraged, tested, and refined. 
  • Develop a deep understanding of the Physics Today audience and its evolving information needs in order to continuously improve content relevance, engagement, and impact.
  • Attend scientific meetings and maintain broad contact with members of the physical-sciences community. 
  • Contribute to and advance the overall editorial effort of Physics Today. 


WHAT YOU’LL BRING: 

  • A passion for science and science communication.
  • Graduate degree, PhD preferred, in physics or a closely related field, or equivalent extensive knowledge of the physical-sciences research community.
  • At least 8 years of professional science writing and editing experience, preferably at a scientific publication.
  • Mentoring/supervision skills
  • Strong critical-thinking skills and ability to solve substantive editing problems.
  • Exceptional talent for storytelling and for explaining complex physics-related topics to a broad audience of scientists.
  • Masterful editorial judgment, creative prowess, and meticulous attention to detail.
  • Excellent communication, collaboration, and mentoring skills.
  • Ability to learn new things quickly and independently.
  • Ability to multitask, handle multiple assignments and priorities on varying timescales, and meet deadlines.


TO APPLY: Include a resume and a cover letter.  We encourage you to apply even if your experience does not fully match the position description. At AIP, we embrace considering people from a diversity of backgrounds and career experiences. 

COMPENSATION: $101,981.00 – $112,179.00


WORKING AT AIP: AIP embraces a flexible hybrid work environment to balance in-person collaborative work with remote work. The team works in a flexible, hybrid schedule and reports to our offices in College Park, Maryland, and Washington, DC, as needed. Employees are required to reside in the DC Metro regions of Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC.

We offer comprehensive benefits, including generous paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, an annual retirement contribution of 10% of base pay, tuition assistance, commuter benefits, and more. 

Your colleagues at AIP are welcoming, gracious, and eager to help each other succeed. With our commitment to ongoing learning and development, institute-wide social opportunities, and community service, AIP is a rewarding place to work.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.


Join our team of energized, charismatic, collaborative, and passionate individuals, and contribute to making a difference in the field of physical sciences!