This Publishers’ Weekly article made my stomach churn. In my agent interview series, I’ve asked the agents whether they think it is a detriment to be a woman in the publishing industry. Most have answered no, but the glum fact is that if you are a woman, you are being paid 60 cents on the dollar that a man earns. The average publishing salary for a man is $99,442 and $63,747 for a woman. Publishers’ Weekly identifies the huge divide in that editors, who are mostly women, are paid substantially less than the management side, comprised of mostly men.
Editorial personnel in the high-priced Mid-Atlantic region earn an average of $51,000, while management averages a much more respectable $140,000. Sales/marketing employees in the region average $69,000 and those in operations earn $60,000.
Is there anyone else who thinks this is backward and should be changed?
Via Galley Cat.
Yes! I think this is outrageous…editors are part and parcel of the success of a good book. They are paid less because they’re women! And that makes my blood boil.