How Much Do Developmental Editors Get Paid?

Developmental editing is one of those jobs where the work is obvious to the writer and almost invisible to everyone else. When it is done well, the story feels inevitable. The pacing tightens. The character motivations make sense. The plot holes stop shouting. And the author can finally see what the book is trying to become.

So how much do developmental editors actually get paid?

The honest answer depends on how they work. A full-time in-house editor at a publisher has a salary. A freelance fiction developmental editor usually charges by the hour, by the word, or by the project, and their income depends on how many clients they can book, how fast they can work without cutting corners, and how consistent their pipeline is.

Below is a clear breakdown of real-world pay ranges, what drives those numbers, and how developmental editors typically price fiction projects today.

What Does A Developmental Editor Get Paid In The Real World?

Most developmental editors fall into one of these paths:

1. In-house editorial roles (salary, benefits, stable workload, less control over rates)
2. Freelance developmental editors (variable income, higher earning ceiling, more business overhead)
3. Hybrid editors (part-time in-house plus freelance projects)

For freelance work, two widely referenced benchmarks are:

1. The Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) rates chart, based on a member survey (2024 chart based on 2023 data).
2. Reedsy marketplace averages, which publish an estimated average per-word rate for developmental editing (their article cites 2025 marketplace data).

You will see rates all over the place online, but those two sources help anchor what “normal” looks like.

How Much Does A Freelance Fiction Developmental Editor Charge Per Hour?

Hourly pay is common when an editor expects the manuscript will require deep structural work, heavy coaching, or unpredictable problem-solving.

The EFA’s published rate chart lists median rate ranges for editing services from their survey, and many editors use those ranges as a pricing reference point.

Some editors in the US market commonly quote developmental editing in the range of roughly $45–$55/hour (often cited as aligned with EFA guidance), while many experienced editors charge more depending on genre, demand, and turnaround time.

The key detail: hourly pay sounds simple, but clients want predictability. That is why many editors quote an estimated hour range after reviewing sample pages.

How Much Does A Fiction Developmental Editor Charge Per Word?

Per-word pricing is popular because it feels straightforward for authors. It also makes budgeting easier.

Reedsy’s marketplace data (as described in their rate-setting article) places developmental editing at an average of about $0.036 per word.

The EFA rate chart also provides per-word guidance for various editing services and explains the survey basis.

Here’s what that looks like when you translate it into real project totals.

What per-word pricing can look like for fiction

These are not promises, but they show why two editors can quote very different totals. A few cents per word adds up quickly.

How Much Do Developmental Editors Get Paid Per Project?

Flat project fees are common when the editor can clearly define the scope.

A project fee often covers:

1. A complete read of the manuscript
2. A detailed editorial letter
3. Margin comments (optional, varies by editor)
4. One follow-up call or Q&A round (varies)

Many editors prefer this method because it protects them from “scope creep,” and it protects the author from unpredictable hourly bills.

If you see project quotes that look high, check what is included. Some editors include a second pass after revisions, which is essentially two projects.

What Does A Developmental Editor’s Annual Income Look Like?

This is where people get surprised.

An editor charging a strong rate can still have an unstable year if they cannot keep their schedule full, or if they underestimate how long projects take. Freelance income is not just “rate × hours.” It is “billable hours × booked months,” minus overhead and admin time.

Here’s a realistic way to model it.

Sample annual income scenarios (freelance)

Two important notes:

1. “Billable hours” is not the same as “hours worked.” Admin, marketing, and client management are real time sinks.
2. Taxes, software, insurance, and unpaid gaps reduce take-home pay.

So when someone asks “How much do developmental editors get paid?” the fairest answer is: the rate can be solid, but the business side determines whether the year is solid.

What Changes A Fiction Developmental Editor’s Pay The Most?

Pay is influenced by a handful of practical factors, and you can usually spot them in the quote.

The biggest pay drivers

This is why one editor might quote $1,800 and another $4,500 for the same word count. They are not necessarily pricing “the same service.”

Are In-House Developmental Editors Paid Differently Than Freelancers?

Yes, very differently.

In-house editors are paid salaries, often with benefits and a more stable workflow. Their pay is also tied to job title, company size, location, and seniority. The trade-off is less control: they cannot usually charge per project, and they may not get to pick the manuscripts.

Freelancers take on risk and overhead, but they can scale their income by:

1. Specializing in a niche
2. Raising rates as demand grows
3. Improving their client pipeline
4. Packaging services more efficiently

Many editors eventually choose hybrid work because it balances stability with flexibility.

What Do UK-Based Editors Get Paid?

If you work with UK rates or are trying to compare markets, you will see different benchmarks.

The CIEP (Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading) publishes suggested minimum rates. For “substantial editing, rewriting, development editing,” their suggested minimum hourly rates starting March 1, 2025 are listed at £41.10 per hour (and they also list a 2026–27 suggested minimum).

That number is not a guarantee of what everyone earns, but it provides a grounded floor for professional work in that market.

If you are reading this because you are budgeting for editing, the pay question matters for one simple reason: sustainable rates usually correlate with sustainable quality. A developmental edit that costs far below normal professional ranges often means the editor is rushing, underestimating, or trying to compete on price rather than depth.

If you want a developmental edit that focuses on structure, pacing, character arc, and market-fit without turning into vague feedback, Fleck Publisher can help you match the right editor to your manuscript and clarify scope up front, so you know what you are paying for before the work begins.

What Is The Difference Between Developmental Editing Pay and Other Editing Pay?

Developmental editing often commands higher pay than proofreading or basic copyediting because it is cognitively heavier work. It requires judgment, story sense, and the ability to explain changes in a way the author can actually apply.

Reedsy’s rate data separates developmental editing from other editing types and lists developmental as higher than proofreading and copyediting averages in their marketplace discussion.

This is also why many developmental editors limit the number of projects they take per month. It is hard to do well at high volume.

How Much Can A Fiction Developmental Editor Earn Per Book?

Per-book earnings vary most by word count and scope, but you can estimate using common per-word ranges.

Example using Reedsy’s average ($0.036/word):

1. 80,000-word novel ≈ $2,880

If an editor can complete (and deliver high-quality work on) 2 novels per month at that level, they could gross roughly $5,700/month. But most editors cannot sustain that pace year-round without burnout, especially if they include calls, extensive margin notes, or second-round support.

This is why many experienced editors build a mix of services: manuscript critiques, editorial assessments, and full developmental edits.

What Should You Expect A Developmental Editor To Deliver At Professional Pay Levels?

This matters because “developmental editing” is used loosely in the market.

At professional levels, a developmental edit usually includes:

1. Clear diagnosis of structure and pacing issues
2. Scene-level guidance (what to cut, move, expand, or reframe)
3. Character arc alignment and motivation checks
4. Plot logic checks (cause and effect, stakes, payoff)
5. Market awareness for genre expectations (especially for fiction)

When you evaluate pay, evaluate deliverables. A low-cost “developmental edit” that reads like generic encouragement is not the same service.

Final Thoughts

So, how much do developmental editors get paid?

A freelance fiction developmental editor often earns through hourly, per-word, or flat project fees, and those rates can be grounded using industry references like the EFA survey-based chart and marketplace averages like Reedsy’s.

But the real income story is bigger than the rate: it is workload, consistency, and the ability to deliver high-level feedback without rushing.

If you are an editor, your best pay lever is not only raising rates. It is packaging scope clearly and protecting your time. If you are an author hiring one, focusing on deliverables and clarity will save you money in the long run, even when the rate looks higher at first glance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do developmental editors get paid per hour?

It varies by experience, market, and scope. Many professional editors reference the EFA rate chart as a benchmark, and hourly figures around the $45–$55 range are commonly cited as aligned with that guidance, while experienced editors may charge more.

What is a typical per-word rate for developmental editing?

Reedsy reports an average developmental editing rate around $0.036/word based on 2025 marketplace data, though real rates vary widely by editor and project.

Does a fiction developmental editor charge differently than nonfiction?

Often, yes. Fiction editing leans heavily on story craft, pacing, character arcs, and genre expectations. Some sources note different typical per-word costs by category, and many editors price based on complexity and market demands rather than just word count.

Can a developmental editor make a full-time income freelancing?

Yes, but it depends on consistent bookings and managing business overhead. Freelancers often need a stable pipeline and realistic billable-hour targets, not just a good hourly rate.

Why are developmental editing rates sometimes higher than copyediting?

Developmental editing is strategic and structural work. It typically requires deeper analysis and more back-and-forth, which is why marketplace averages and industry benchmarks often place it higher than copyediting or proofreading.