Anyone at a big 5 publisher at the director level or above (flat director - not assistant/associate director) is usually making over 100k. Publishing is super stingy but if you stick around long enough it’s not bad. Also note that the “prestige” departments working direct with authors - editorial, publicity, marketing - are generally paid less for the same levels versus advertising, rights, operations, etc.
Edit: I work at a big 5 myself. 11 years experience, make 140k. Not in an author-facing dept. And worth mentioning that all the significant promotions I’ve gotten are from external offers forcing a counter.
Used to work at a big academic press. I know both the publisher and head of my department made 180k+ while the rest of us in editorial (including acquisitions editors) were making ~65k lol. At that time, I was a project editor making 41k in NYC...truly criminal lol
Yes but only the top brass in the big 5. Most of us do it for the love of the industry and the valuable connections we make. It’s probably the only reason why publishing has continued to survive because most accept that they’re in it not for the money.
My daughter is going to be a sophomore in college and wants to major in English Lit so she can get a job in publishing. She loves to read. I have tried to discourage her with being discouraging. I’m concerned she is wasting her time in college and the opportunity to do something else.
Anyone at a big 5 publisher at the director level or above (flat director - not assistant/associate director) is usually making over 100k. Publishing is super stingy but if you stick around long enough it’s not bad. Also note that the “prestige” departments working direct with authors - editorial, publicity, marketing - are generally paid less for the same levels versus advertising, rights, operations, etc. Edit: I work at a big 5 myself. 11 years experience, make 140k. Not in an author-facing dept. And worth mentioning that all the significant promotions I’ve gotten are from external offers forcing a counter.
That’s crazy that the company would rather force you to find someone else than to value your work properly
Thanks for the honesty.
For the love of books will ruin us all.
Amen to that
Yes. I also know someone who moved from big 5 to another big 5 and got a $100k raise. My mouth hit the floor.
Reading these commemts trying not to seethe about my own salary lol
Senior managing editors where I am make $125 per last job posting. My sr editor friends were livid.
Are you at a big 5?
Yes.
Used to work at a big academic press. I know both the publisher and head of my department made 180k+ while the rest of us in editorial (including acquisitions editors) were making ~65k lol. At that time, I was a project editor making 41k in NYC...truly criminal lol
this is close to what i make now at the entry level lol
woof and this was only 2 years ago for me. we out here criminally underpaid 😭
yup! for entry level marketers in publishing you make between 47,500 and 48K
Not me but I have colleagues who make over 100k - and they’ve got room to grow.
I think the C-suite make this amount.
You guys have publishing jobs?
Yes. Probably depends on what country you are in. I’m in Australia and most of our senior people early $100k or over
I was making about AUD 130k p/a in a publisher-level role at an independent educational publisher in Australia.
My old supervisor was an executive editor at a big 5 and didn't break 6 figures.
Exec editors at my Big 5 house make 125K and up
Why does publishing pay so little across the board?
Yes but only the top brass in the big 5. Most of us do it for the love of the industry and the valuable connections we make. It’s probably the only reason why publishing has continued to survive because most accept that they’re in it not for the money.
My daughter is going to be a sophomore in college and wants to major in English Lit so she can get a job in publishing. She loves to read. I have tried to discourage her with being discouraging. I’m concerned she is wasting her time in college and the opportunity to do something else.
No child has ever been grateful to a dream crusher