ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Substantive Editor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

EssayMaster

Admissions Essay Editor

$20 - $35/hr

We make substantive edits. This is not a proofreading service! Nor do we write essays for clients. Tap the link for details of our editing approach and our business principles.

Cmu

Senior Writer/Editor

Pittsburgh, PA · On-site +1

Edit formal technical reports at all editorial levels, including substantive editing, copyediting, and proofreading. Correct grammar, punctuation, syntax, usage, capitalization, citations, formatting ...

Concordia Publishing House

Collaborate with developmental editors on substantive edits * Write or revise copy when requested * Review final pages for typographical and layout issues * Meet deadlines while staying within ...

Gartner

Editor

Fort Myers, FL · Remote

Editors perform a variety of duties, including formatting, fact checking and editing for reports ... We do important, interesting and substantive work that matters. That's why we hire associates with ...

Gartner

Editor

Irving, TX · Remote

Editors perform a variety of duties, including formatting, fact checking and editing for reports ... We do important, interesting and substantive work that matters. That's why we hire associates with ...

The Lawfare Institute

Associate Editor

Washington, DC · On-site +1

$48K - $60K/yr

... focus on substantive issues that matter-in a fashion that is useful to policymakers and ... The associate editor plays a pivotal role in the editorial process, ensuring that articles ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsSubstantive Editor Jobs

Substantive Editor information

See salary details

$11

$31

$57

How much do substantive editor jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for substantive 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 are substantive editors?

Substantive editors are professionals who review and refine written content at a deep structural level. Their role involves evaluating the organization, clarity, flow, and overall coherence of a manuscript, rather than just correcting grammar or spelling. They often suggest significant changes to improve the content’s effectiveness, such as reorganizing sections, clarifying arguments, or ensuring consistency in tone and style. Substantive editors work closely with authors to enhance the quality and impact of the writing, making it more suitable for its intended audience and purpose.

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

Substantive Editors work closely with authors to clarify content, improve structure, and ensure the manuscript meets publication standards. They often provide detailed feedback, suggest reorganizations, and may hold meetings or correspond regularly to discuss revisions. Collaboration with copy editors and proofreaders is common to maintain consistency and address any language or formatting issues that arise after structural edits. This team-oriented approach helps ensure the final product is polished, coherent, and ready for publication.

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

To thrive as a Substantive Editor, you need advanced language proficiency, a deep understanding of narrative structure, and a degree in English, communications, or a related field. Familiarity with editing software like Microsoft Word’s Track Changes, content management systems, and relevant editorial style guides is typically required. Strong collaboration, critical thinking, and effective communication skills help you work closely with writers and provide constructive feedback. These competencies ensure that manuscripts are clear, coherent, and well-organized, ultimately improving the quality and impact of published content.

What is the difference between Substantive Editor vs Copy Editor?

AspectSubstantive EditorCopy Editor
Primary FocusContent structure, clarity, and overall coherenceGrammar, punctuation, and style correctness
CredentialsOften requires editing certifications or related degreesTypically requires editing or language proficiency certifications
Work EnvironmentPublishing houses, academic journals, or content agenciesPublishing, media, or corporate editing roles
Common TasksRevising content flow, ensuring logical structureCorrecting language errors, consistency in style

Substantive Editors focus on the overall content structure and clarity, ensuring the material is logically organized and coherent. Copy Editors primarily concentrate on language accuracy, grammar, and style. While both roles require strong editing skills and related certifications, Substantive Editors often work on larger content revisions, whereas Copy Editors refine language details. Understanding these differences helps employers and job seekers identify the right role for their skills and career goals.

What cities are hiring for Substantive Editor jobs? Cities with the most Substantive Editor job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Substantive Editor jobs? The most popular types of Substantive Editor jobs are:
What states have the most Substantive Editor jobs? States with the most job openings for Substantive Editor jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Substantive Editor jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Substantive Editor jobs are:
Substantive Editor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Substantive Editor job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, 21% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 71% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 24% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $65,728 per year, or $31.6 per hour.

Hiring Freelance Academic Editors

Crimson Interactive

San Francisco, CA

Part-time

Posted 18 days ago

Job description

Company Description

Crimson Interactive is an ISO-certified organization (ISO 9001:2008) providing Japanese and English language solutions to customers globally. Our brands deliver services in three professional areas:


Editing (www.enago.com)

Translation (www.ulatus.com)

Transcription (www.voxtab.com)

Since our inception in 2005, we have moved from strength to strength and now have a team of several hundred translators operating all over the globe. We also successfully partnered with Japan's largest Academic Publisher, Maruzen, and the second largest publisher in the world, Dai Nippon Publishing (DNP), for their editorial and translation needs.

Crimson is a company where cultures across boundaries thrive together. We have Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, Taiwanese, and Indians working for a common objective. We have clients in various geographies-Japan, China, Taiwan, Germany, Korea, the US, UK, etc.

Please do visit http://www.crimsoni.com/crimson-videos.htm to watch some videos about "Life at Crimson" and "Expats working at Crimson".


Job Description

Job description

We are looking for experienced copy editors & substantive editors in Physics, Engineering and Medicine with a core academic background.

Qualities we look for in our freelance editors:

  • Proficiency and competence in the most widely spoken language across the world-English!
  • Knack for diligently editing, restructuring, and polishing articles written by non-native speakers, with least 5 years of relevant copyediting/academic editing experience
  • Extensive subject matter expertise

We prefer editor profiles that reflect

  • Research experience (studies conducted, papers written/published, papers reviewed, etc.)
  • Certificate/experience in academic editing, publishing, scientific communication, and journal article writing
  • Extensive experience in editing ESL (English as a Second Language) manuscripts
  • Knowledge of the style (such as APA, CMS, AMA, CSE, IEEE) and conventions followed in academic writing
  • Member of acclaimed editing and publishing associations such as EFA, EASE, BELS

A glimpse at what you would edit:

You will be assigned papers of varying difficulty levels (in terms of English, subject matter expertise, and the extent of revision needed) written by non-native speakers in either English or their native language (translated papers). These papers written by what we believe constitute an eclectic group of authors and writers, i.e., we receive work from not only scientists, researchers, and students but also corporates, linguists, and the common man trying to communicate in English--from the latest in cutting-edge technology to the timeless fascination with history and arts!

Our freelance editors should ensure:

  • Immaculate grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and word choice
  • Flow, transition, correct terminology, correctness of content, and coherence
  • Appropriate manuscript format* that conforms to academic conventions in terms of citation style, layout, section headings, and tense usage
  • Preservation of the author's intended meaning even in papers where the content requires extensive revision *Freelance editors also thoroughly format the manuscript as per mentioned journal guidelines when clients opt for our journal formatting service.

Enago will ensure

  • Possibility of a guaranteed monthly income while freelancing: Apart from offering work in the typical freelancing manner, we also offer opportunities that guarantee a minimum monthly/annual income, along with the possibility of an additional annual bonus (monetary), based on your performance.
  • A smooth performance-driven progression curve with an effective feedback mechanism: This ensures that the expectation mismatch is nearly zero. In the past, the strong professional bonding with our freelance editors has also led to mutual recommendations-a definite plus factor!
  • A rewarding experience, both monetarily and intellectually: You will get the opportunity to apply your domain knowledge and skills to help non-native authors present their work to the world through esteemed journals and renowned conferences, with the flexibility of timings dedicated to editing.
Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Apply