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Prose Editor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Washington, DC · On-site

$60K - $70K/yr

TEST DESCRIPTION Editor FTE: 100% Salary: $75,000 to $80,000 Location: Washington, DC About Stimson ... pithy prose that is both accurate and accessible; * Work in close collaboration with Stimson ...

... • Editors and writers who treat structured prose as engineering. • Academics tired of producing work that nobody acts on. • Anyone who reads about what we're doing and recognizes the work as ...

Your prose is sharp, professional, and requires minimal editing, whether you're drafting a formal announcement or a quick media pitch. Requirements * 5+ years of professional experience in Public ...

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Prose Editor information

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$18K

$72.1K

$112.5K

How much do prose editor jobs pay per year?

As of May 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for prose editor in the United States is $72,056.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $49,500.00 and $94,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Prose Editor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Prose Editor, you need excellent command of grammar, style, and storytelling, often supported by a degree in English, literature, or a related field. Familiarity with editing software like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and style guides such as Chicago Manual of Style is typically required. Strong attention to detail, effective communication, and the ability to give and receive constructive feedback are standout soft skills. These competencies ensure the clarity, coherence, and overall quality of written content, meeting both author and publication standards.

How does a Prose Editor typically collaborate with authors and other editorial team members during the editing process?

A Prose Editor works closely with authors, providing constructive feedback to enhance clarity, flow, and consistency in the manuscript. Collaboration often involves multiple rounds of edits, discussions about narrative voice, and clarification of story elements. Editors also coordinate with copy editors, proofreaders, and sometimes designers to ensure the final work meets publication standards. Maintaining open communication and a supportive relationship with the author is key to a successful editing process.

What is a Prose Editor?

A Prose Editor is a professional who reviews, revises, and refines written works of prose, such as novels, short stories, essays, and nonfiction manuscripts. Their main responsibility is to enhance the clarity, flow, structure, and overall quality of the text while preserving the author’s voice and intent. Prose Editors check for grammar, punctuation, syntax, and consistency, and may also provide feedback on plot, characterization, and style. They work closely with authors to ensure the final piece is polished and ready for publication.

What is the difference between Prose Editor vs Copy Editor?

AspectProse EditorCopy Editor
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor's degree in English, journalism, or related fieldSimilar educational background, often with certifications in editing or publishing
Work EnvironmentFocuses on improving the style, tone, and clarity of prose in manuscripts or articlesFocuses on correcting grammar, punctuation, and consistency in text
Industry UsageCommon in publishing, literary editing, and content creationWidely used in publishing, journalism, and corporate editing

Prose Editors primarily enhance the style and narrative flow of written content, while Copy Editors concentrate on grammatical accuracy and consistency. Both roles require strong language skills and often overlap, but Prose Editors focus more on the artistic and stylistic aspects of writing, whereas Copy Editors ensure technical correctness.

More about Prose Editor jobs
Infographic showing various Prose Editor job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 77% Full Time, 15% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, and 16% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $72,056 per year, or $34.6 per hour.

Research Foundation of the City University of New York rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 9 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

202nd of 667 rated non-profit organizations


Job description

Thank you for considering a career with the Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY).

The team at RFCUNY is made up of dedicated, talented professionals committed to providing the services that allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries.

We are pleased that you are interested in exploring opportunities to join RFCUNY.

Primary Location:

The GRADUATE CENTER

Bargaining Unit:

Yes

General Description:

Repertoire International de Litterature Musicale (RILM) seeks an Associate Editor who will be responsible for abstracting and indexing publications in German and French or Italian. RILM publishes RILM abstracts of music literature (along with a suite of other resources), which is widely recognized as the world's premiere abstracted bibliography on music and related disciplines. RILM was established in 1966 and operates under the joint sponsorship of the International Musicological Society, the International Association of Music Libraries, Archives, and Documentation Centres, and the International Council for Traditional Music.

RILM abstracts covers research on all types of music and related studies, published in all document types (books, articles, reviews, collections, among others) anywhere in the world and in any language. The database is fully searchable, with in-depth vocabulary-controlled indexing and detailed abstracts. The data are written, input, and edited to a high uniform standard by an international staff of specialists from all subject areas. The database contains over 1.8 million bibliographic records and is published online.

The successful candidate will be responsible for abstracting and indexing scholarship published in the German language, in addition to publications in French or/and Italian, making sure that they are fully and accurately represented in RILM abstracts.

The candidate will also work on bibliographic records related to other geographic areas, applying RILM's editorial style as detailed in RILM's editing and indexing style manuals, improving the prose, punctuation, and factual content of the material through research, and will engage professionally and culturally with music scholarship of the areas of responsibility.

  • Edit, index, translate, and when needed write abstracts of scholarly literature on music received from diverse sources and of varied quality and intelligibility, bringing them to a high standard of literacy and scholarship.

  • Work on development of indexing vocabularies.

  • Track the scholarship and publishing in European countries, and work on the development of relevant networks.

  • Advise the marketing/sales teams about academic networks in Europe.

  • Other duties as assigned.

  • Full-time (a minimum of 35 hours per week). After a lengthy training period, the schedule of when these hours are fulfilled can be flexible.

Qualifications:

  • PhD in musicology/ethnomusicology or cultural studies with focus on music is strongly preferred.

  • Experience in editing and the ability to organize data into logical concepts, with proven research and writing skills.

  • Superior written English skills and excellence in focused, detailed work.

  • In addition to English, native or near native fluency in German, with knowledge of French and/or Italian. Other languages are a plus.

  • Willingness to engage in administrative and technological work.

  • Scholarly / academic network is desired.

Applicants should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, statement about his/her own scholarly and research interests, and a list of three references with contact information. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Pay Range:

$26.00 - $26.00

RFCUNY Benefits
RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals (link to https://www.rfcuny.org/RFWebsite)


About the Research Foundation
The Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY) is a nonprofit educational corporation founded in 1963 to provide post-award fiscal and administrative support for CUNY's research and sponsored programs. RFCUNY's services allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries, on projects and programs that serve our local and global communities, proposing concrete solutions to society's most pressing challenges.
RFCUNY serves as a fiscal agent and works closely with all the CUNY campus Grants Offices to perform the core functions of post-award financial management for CUNY research projects and sponsored programs. These functions include legal assessment and signing of agreements where RFCUNY is named as a fiscal agent; setting up award accounts; preparing sub-awards and assisting PIs in monitoring the work of the recipients of sub-awards; supporting project directors with hiring and managing research project and sponsored program staff; supporting the purchasing and paying for goods and services with grant and program funds; managing financial aspects of projects including accounts receivable, financial reporting, invoicing, budget monitoring, and cost compliance with uniform guidance; ensuring that sponsor financial requirements are met; monitoring compliance with applicable project and financial management rules and laws; supporting the management of independent and external audits and financial reviews; and providing data, information, management expertise, and other supports to CUNY's research and sponsored programs.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.