Podcast Editor Jobs: Career Info & Role Description

Podcasting offers a range of career opportunities for creative and technical individuals alike. No matter your skill set and interests you can find the right path for you. A career Podcast Editor is for those of you who love to create a story and lead the technical and creative post production. Read on to learn more about what a Podcast Editor does, and what skills they need to succeed.

What is a Podcast Editor?

A Podcast Editor is a post-production role that is in charge of polishing up the audio content. They ensure high-quality sound and a seamless listening experience throughout the podcast episodes.  They may remove background noise, cut out errors or pauses, enhance audio clarity, and balance sound levels. 

Editors can also add music, sound effects, transitions and other elements to the audio. 

This position can be similar to a podcast audio engineer. The tasks they are responsible for may be similar but it depends on what the client is looking for that will determine the role’s requirements.

Often an audio engineer may focus more on the recording quality, mixing and mastering and the technical sound aspects, while an editor may lead the creative editing of the content. They will collaborate with the producers and hosts to create the desired final result.

What does a Podcast Editor do?

A podcast editor plays a key role in shaping the final audio of a podcast. Their primary responsibilities may include:

1. Audio Cleanup: They remove unwanted noise, background sounds, and any technical issues like clicks, pops, or hums to ensure clean audio.

2. Content Editing: Together with the producer, they guide the story and content. They may trim unnecessary parts to keep the podcast focused and engaging. This can also involve rearranging segments for better flow.

3. Sound Balancing: They may be in charge of adjusting audio levels to ensure consistent volume across all parts of the episode, balancing multiple speakers’ voices, and integrating music or sound effects.

4. Adding Effects and Music: Editors may have the responsibility of adding elements to enhance the overall audio and align the episodes with the brand.

When it comes down to it, a podcast editor is responsible for turning raw audio recordings into a polished podcast episode.

What Skills Do You Need to Become a Podcast Editor?

If you are interested in becoming a podcast editor, here are the skills you should hone in on.

You’ll need to perfect a series of technical skills, like your proficiency in audio editing software. It can be good to learn more than one. Audacity and Garage Band offer free versions, but professional podcasters may use ProTools or Adobe Audition. It’s best to get familiar with at least one of these. 

Staying technical, brush up on your knowledge of audio file formats, compression techniques, and sound-principles to ensure high-quality production. Attention to detail overall is important to catch and correct audio imperfections, remove unwanted noise, and ensure smooth transitions between segments.

An understanding of sound design can be beneficial for a career in editing. A good podcast editor should understand how to use sound elements to enhance the storytelling and audio.

While the producer and host may lead a lot of the creative side of outlining a show’s content, it doesn’t hurt to have your own creative skills. Understanding story arcs, and what content drives engagement can help you as a podcast editor know where to clip and rearrange content for a great podcast episode.

Then there are some skills that are just as important, as they’ll come up a lot in your career:

1. Communication and Collaboration: You’ll be working closely with hosts, producers, and other team members. Strong communication skills help you to understand and create the desired vision for the podcast. It also makes team work all the more enjoyable!

2. Time Management: You’re going to have a lot of deadlines, and a lot of content to juggle. Know how to prioritize tasks and get the work done with strict deadlines. 

3. Adaptability: things change, podcasts are different, producers have different visions. Know how to keep up and adapt your approach to match the goals of each podcast.

Where to Find a Job as a Podcast Audio Editor

If you are looking for a job as a podcast editor, there are many resources for you to search through.

Keep in mind, as we mentioned Editor may be a general term. The position may alter slightly for different people. Rather than only searching “Editor” jobs, you can search for other positions in sound design, audio engineer or even post-production. This may help you in your search!

Here are a few resources we suggest checking out:

Podcast Job Posting Sites: Specific sites for all things podcasting jobs include Podnews Jobs or AIR. You can find freelance opportunities or full-time contract jobs in everything from management to production to promotion. 

Upwork & Fiverr: These are for freelancers and gig work, but often have a few opportunities in podcasting. It’s a great starter spot, but know that the rates and job stability through these opportunities might not be the best. 

The Classic Job Posting Sites: LinkedIn, Indeed, Remote.co, or WeWorkRemotely, are all great spots to have a look for a podcasting career. You can find opportunities remotely or locally, just use the filters and search wisely.

Lastly, you can always look directly on your favorite podcast network, agency, or show’s website to see if they are looking for help. This is one of the best approaches as it ensures you’ll be working with a client you are enthusiastic about. Speaking of, you can always keep an eye out on the Lower Street Job page, we’d love to hear from you.