10 Jobs for People Who Love to Read

If your idea of a good time is hanging out in a bookstore, if you fall asleep with your e-reader every night, or if you devour current events stories from a variety of sources, then you might want to start a new career chapter by checking out jobs for people who love to read.

These jobs for readers are as varied as the material itself. Some jobs let you spend your workday with your nose buried in books, scholarly works, or historical documents; others require a mastery of the written word or a passion for discussing published research or literature.

Using Monster data, we found 10 jobs that are perfect for bookworms, wordsmiths, and info-hounds alike who would enjoy nothing more than reading for a living.

Acquisitions Editor

What you'd do: When you love to read so much that you develop an eye for discovering top-notch writing, you just might make a great acquisitions editor. These pros work for publishing houses and literary agencies, reading manuscripts and connecting with authors to acquire titles for their companies.
What you need: Typically, an acquisitions editor will have a bachelor's degree (most commonly in English or journalism), but you might start off as an assistant and work your way up despite having studied an unrelated discipline.
What you'd make: The median salary for an editor is around $24 per hour.

Find acquisitions editor on Monster.

Archivist

What you'd do: For anyone who is fascinated by written relics, becoming an archivist is a great way to immerse yourself in historical reading. Archivists work to preserve items of historical value, authenticate and appraise documents, and organize archives for museums and government or educational institutions.
What you need: A strong academic background, including a master's degree in a field such as history or library science, is a must. Some colleges also have archival science programs.
What you'd make: The median salary for an archivist is around $52,500 per year.

Find archivist jobs on Monster.

Content Editor

What you'd do: A big part of being a content editor for a media company, brand, or publication is sifting through, reading, and reshaping tons of written material to provide something of value to the readers. Whether it's to entertain, inform, or make a persuasive argument, the work of a savvy content editor requires someone who has a way with words.
What you need: Most content editors have a bachelor's degree and a strong writing background.
What you'd make: The median salary for a web content producer is around $60,000 per year.

Find content editor jobs on Monster.

Copy Editor

What you'd do: If you take a strong stance on the Oxford comma, and read everything from menus to text messages with an eagle eye, a copyediting career may be your calling. Copy editors are experts in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and usage, and work to maintain consistency in tone and style for their publication.
What you need: Copy editors tend to have a degree in English or journalism, and are usually required to prove their mastery of the language via an employer's copyediting test.
What you'd make: The median salary for a proofreader is around $20 per hour.

Find copy editor jobs and proofreading jobs on Monster.

Grant Writer

What you'd do: Using your love of reading and writing for a good cause is one of the appealing benefits of becoming a grant writer. Grant writers conduct lots of research—which includes copious reading of reports, studies, and news—then write up proposals requesting funding for their organization or project.
What you need: Grant writers typically have a bachelor's degree.
What you'd make: The median salary for a writer is around $24.50 per hour.

Find grant writer jobs on Monster.

Lawyer

What you'd do: When they're not providing legal advice or representing clients in court, lawyers are immersed in reading case law and statute books. There's a reason why there are full-fledged law libraries, after all.
What you need: After completing a bachelor's degree, aspiring lawyers must graduate law school and then pass their state's bar examination. View a sample resume for a lawyer.
What you'd make: The median salary for an attorney is around $87,000 per year.

Find lawyer jobs on Monster.

Librarian

What you'd do: The go-to of jobs for people who love to read, When you're literally surrounded by books all day, a love of reading has to be a prerequisite. Librarians do far more than just help people locate books. They are avid researchers who know how to leverage the many resources and reference materials that libraries have to offer.
What you need: Most librarians pursue a master's degree in library science (MLS) in order to thrive in the field. Working in a specialized law, medical, or corporate library might require additional schooling in the corresponding field.
What you'd make: The median salary for a librarian is around $48,000 per year.

Find librarian jobs on Monster.

Political Scientist

What you'd do: Political scientists must be very knowledgeable about political history, different types of government systems, and trends and issues affecting politics. A majority of this know-how comes from massive amounts of reading including reports, articles, and other material from numerous data sources.
What you need: To rise in the ranks of a political science career, expect to complete an advanced degree, either a master's or Ph.D. program.

Find political scientist jobs on Monster.

Teacher

What you'd do: Teachers and books always go hand in hand, which is why becoming an educator usually pairs well with a love of reading. Whether you're creating lesson plans, discussing works of literature, or keeping up with the latest research in your academic discipline, reading is fundamental.
What you need: Plan to earn at least a bachelor's degree to start, followed by an advanced degree and/or continuing education. Being a public school teacher requires a state license or certification, while private schools have their own criteria. View a sample resume for a teacher and a sample cover letter for a teacher.
What you'd make: The median salary for high school teachers is around $45,000 per year; the median salary for elementary school teachers is around $43,000 per year.

Find teacher jobs on Monster.

Translator

What you'd do: You have to really love reading if you plan to spend your days doing it in more than one language. Translators convert written material from one language to another, doing their best to ensure that the true intent of the original author carries over.
What you need: Although a bachelor's degree is a common job requirement, language fluency is the most vital skill needed. However, if you're translating specialized materials, such as medical or financial documents, degree work in those fields might be needed.
What you'd make: The median salary for translators is around $22 per hour.

Find translator jobs on Monster.

Find Great Jobs for Readers

You know who else reads a whole lot? Hiring managers—yet another title in the list of jobs for people who love to read. Their manuscript of choice is a stellar resume—the kind that dazzles them with applicable skills and experience. Want to get yours in front of more people? Get started by creating a free profile on Monster. We can help you find a great job and advances you to the next chapter of your career.