AITakeover Tracker
35%medium risk

Editors

Plan, coordinate, or edit content of material for publication. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication. Includes technical editors.

Higher risk than 66% of occupations

AI Impact Summary

Editors faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 35/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 66% of all analyzed occupations. Of 23 analyzed tasks, 4 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.

Skill Impact Analysis

AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)

Reading Comprehension10%

High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Information Ordering5%

High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Memorization5%

Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Mathematics10%

Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Mathematics10%

Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Programming15%

Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

AI-Resistant Skills (11)

Adaptability/Flexibility85%

Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Leadership88%

Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Social Perceptiveness90%

Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Complex Problem Solving75%

Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Instructing75%

Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Negotiation85%

Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Persuasion80%

Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Coordination70%

Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

AI-Augmented Skills (7)

WritingCritical ThinkingJudgment and Decision MakingSystems AnalysisActive LearningMonitoringTechnology Design

Recommended Courses

Courses matched to Editors skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.

Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.

Upskill to Reduce Risk

Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills

DataCampbeginner

SQL Fundamentals Skill Track

by DataCamp

21 hours$25/mo4.7Certificate
Addresses vulnerability: Information Ordering

Estimated Impact

-7pt risk+$4K/yr salary

AI-Augmentation Tools

Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity

Coursera

Creative Writing Specialization

by Wesleyan University

~8 weeks$49/mo4.7Certificate
Enhances AI augmentation: Writing

Estimated Impact

-5.8pt risk+$5K/yr salary

Strengthen Your Edge

Double down on skills AI can't replicate

Courseraintermediate

Leading People and Teams Specialization

by University of Michigan

~6 weeks$49/mo4.7Certificate
Strengthens resilience: Leadership

Estimated Impact

-3.9pt risk+$5K/yr salary

We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.

Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.

Education & Training

Percentage of workers at each education and training level

Education Level

Bachelor's Degree80%
Master's Degree1%
Doctoral/Professional Degree17%
Level 91%

Prior Experience Needed

Work experience required to enter this job

1-3 months3%
6 months - 1 year12%
1-2 years15%
2-4 years30%
4-6 years20%
6-8 years9%
8-10 years12%

Training Provided After Hiring

How long it typically takes to learn on the job

None14%
Up to 1 month19%
1-3 months9%
3-6 months16%
6 months - 1 year34%
2-4 years9%

How AI Impacts Each Task

23 tasks analyzed

Read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, and syntax.

Risk: 65.4%AI: 40.48ObservedTime: 10%

Verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard reference sources.

Risk: 78.0%AI: 72EstimatedTime: 6%

Read, evaluate and edit manuscripts or other materials submitted for publication and confer with authors regarding changes in content, style or organization, or publication.

Risk: 45.4%AI: 46.03ObservedTime: 9%

Develop story or content ideas, considering reader or audience appeal.

Risk: 49.9%AI: 57.25ObservedTime: 6%

Prepare, rewrite and edit copy to improve readability, or supervise others who do this work.

Risk: 47.8%AI: 52.02ObservedTime: 8%

Oversee publication production, including artwork, layout, computer typesetting, and printing, ensuring adherence to deadlines and budget requirements.

Risk: 53.7%AI: 66.67ObservedTime: 5%

Write text, such as stories, articles, editorials, or newsletters.

Risk: 61.0%AI: 85EstimatedTime: 5%

Supervise and coordinate work of reporters and other editors.

Risk: 21.0%AI: 15EstimatedTime: 5%

Monitor news-gathering operations to ensure utilization of all news sources, such as press releases, telephone contacts, radio, television, wire services, and other reporters.

Risk: 86.0%AI: 92EstimatedTime: 3%

Confer with management and editorial staff members regarding placement and emphasis of developing news stories.

Risk: 25.0%AI: 25EstimatedTime: 4%

Plan the contents of publications according to the publication's style, editorial policy, and publishing requirements.

Risk: 44.8%AI: 44.57ObservedTime: 5%

Review and approve proofs submitted by composing room prior to publication production.

Risk: 74.6%AI: 63.42ObservedTime: 4%

Select local, state, national, and international news items received from wire services, based on assessment of items' significance and interest value.

Risk: 57.0%AI: 75EstimatedTime: 3%

Allocate print space for story text, photos, and illustrations according to space parameters and copy significance, using knowledge of layout principles.

Risk: 48.7%AI: 54.17ObservedTime: 3%

Make manuscript acceptance or revision recommendations to the publisher.

Risk: 52.2%AI: 63.02ObservedTime: 3%

Direct the policies and departments of newspapers, magazines and other publishing establishments.

Risk: 37.0%AI: 25EstimatedTime: 2%

Assign topics, events and stories to individual writers or reporters for coverage.

Risk: 29.0%AI: 35EstimatedTime: 3%

Meet frequently with artists, typesetters, layout personnel, marketing directors, and production managers to discuss projects and resolve problems.

Risk: 23.0%AI: 20EstimatedTime: 4%

Arrange for copyright permissions.

Risk: 70.9%AI: 54.17ObservedTime: 2%

Interview and hire writers and reporters or negotiate contracts, royalties, and payments for authors or freelancers.

Risk: 23.0%AI: 20EstimatedTime: 3%

Read material to determine index items and arrange them alphabetically or topically, indicating page or chapter location.

Risk: 66.7%AI: 43.75ObservedTime: 2%

Respond to questions from the public.

Risk: 41.0%AI: 65EstimatedTime: 2%

Write text, such as headlines, stories, articles, editorials, or newsletters.

Risk: 61.0%AI: 85EstimatedTime: 3%

Protective Factors

Total protective discount: 30.6%

Essential Soft Skills

Traits that are hard for AI to replicate

Attention to DetailIntegrityCooperationAdaptability/FlexibilityDependabilityStress ToleranceInitiativeLeadershipInnovationSelf ControlPersistenceAnalytical Thinking

Wage & Employment (2024)

Median Wage

$75,260

per year

Mean Wage

$85,700

per year

Employment

95K

workers

Wage Range

$36,200 - $140,840

10th - 90th pct

Wage Distribution

$36,200Median: $75,260$140,840
Career Planning

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Recommendations

Skills to Develop

These skills are at risk from AI automation. Editors professionals should diversify beyond them.

  • Reading Comprehension

    High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

  • Information Ordering

    High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

  • Memorization

    Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

  • Mathematics

    Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

  • Mathematics

    Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Skills to Leverage

These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.

  • Adaptability/Flexibility

    Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Leadership

    Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Social Perceptiveness

    Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Complex Problem Solving

    Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Instructing

    Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Tools to Adopt

AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.

  • Writing

    Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Critical Thinking

    Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Judgment and Decision Making

    Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Systems Analysis

    Systems Analysis will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Active Learning

    Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

Score History

Risk score over 2 scoring runs

+0.7

overall change

Checking for existing plan...