How to Become a Publisher

Overview & Salaries

Recommended Degree:
The right degree for you depends on the industry and company you apply for. Those looking for an entry positions need a bachelor’s in writing, journalism, or communication. If you are looking to get into a writing sample, than formal training and a degree can help, but is not necessary.

Begin your career path today by signing up for free information from one of our accredited schools below that offer programs to help get you started as a book publisher.

How Much Does a Book Publisher Make? 
Editors: $53,880

Expected Growth from 2012-2020:
Editors: -2,800 less people employed

Specialization Options:
Fiction writing, nonfiction writing, poems, instructional writing, short stories, editing, and technical writing.

(all information above provided by the 2012 BLS Editors, and Writers and Authors page) 

Discover the Best Places to Become a Publisher

Editors and advertising sales agents find the most employment opportunities and salaries in the state of New York, each offering yearly mean salaries of $81,540 and $76,470 respectively. Reporters and correspondents, on the other hand, will find California giving more work options than other states, with nearly 5,000 jobs currently being employed in the profession, and an average yearly salary of $49,170.

According to publishing research company Book Business’ recent survey ‘Best Book Publishing Companies to Work For,” the top places are:

  • F.A. Davis Co.
  • Hachette Book Group
  • C&T Publishing
  • Human Kinetics
  • W. W. Norton & Co. Inc.

Employment and Salary Information by State for Publishers

Use our interactive map below to find out which areas of the United States are currently experiencing the greatest amount of growth and job availability for graduates looking for a career in Publishing. All data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a highly credible government agency.

Employment and Information Data for Publishing

Why Publishing

The publishing industry is an exciting space and often glamorous industry to work in that accommodates many entry level and early career professionals every year. If the maxim “Content is King” hold true, there should always be plenty of opportunity in the publishing space.

That’s because today publishing is no longer the domain of stodgy, dust covered hardback books. Today publishing also encompasses magazines and apps and websites and just about every digital technology to help get content across.

Recommended Courses to Help You Become a Publisher

  • Introduction to Publishing
  • The Editorial Process
  • Fundamentals of Copyediting and Proofreading
  • Strategies in Magazine & Digital Publishing
  • The Mechanics of Writing
  • Academic Writing
  • Tools, Not Rules: Rhetorical Grammar for Writers
  • Beginning Poetry Workshop

Degree Options for Publishing Careers

There are no degree requirements but many  publishers are looking for entry level employees with a bachelor’s degree in writing or journalism. However, there are no absolutes in this fields and often talent and experience can trump a degree.

Certificate
A Certificate in Professional Writing is typically a three to six-course program designed to strengthens workplace written communication skills. It also can prepare students for a career as a professional writer.

Bachelor’s Degree
Many schools offer bachelor’s degree in both writing and journalism  Often there is overlap between these curriculum  Many online and print publications look for recent grads with writing and journalism majors.

Master’s Degree & MFA
When it comes to master’s degree in the writing and journalism space, there are none more honored than the Master of Fine Arts in Writing and the famed J-school degree so many successful journalist have received.  Each degree is important in honing writing, analytic and creative skills that can be transferred to the professional world.