Publishing careers

What can you expect to earn?

Publishing salaries have been notoriously low, especially for entry level positions. Things are improving, but few people go into publishing for the money.

Starting salaries vary considerably, but around £20,000 would not be uncommon for a new editorial assistant. It could be as low as £17,000 or as high as £25,000, though. After a few years, you could go on to earn in the region of £30–£40,000 as a commissioning editor.

Very high remuneration is unusual except for those at the very top.

What about the economic downturn?

Few industries are likely to be immune to the worldwide recession and publishing is no exception. Academic publishers may fare better than trade publishers, since the latter produces what are essentially luxury items, while students and professionals will always need the latest editions of the standard texts in their field. Some publishers may also try to economise by outsourcing more work to freelancers, which allows them to save on overheads and to ensure that they pay only for work that needs to be done.

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