KGL Consulting, the advisory arm of KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd. (KGL), has released its much-anticipated 2024 Editorial Compensation Benchmark Study, offering a deep dive into editorial compensation practices, gender representation, and operational trends across scholarly journal publishing. With data drawn from 213 journals spanning multiple disciplines, this is the largest and most comprehensive study of its kind, providing invaluable insights for publishers and societies navigating today’s complex publishing environment.
Key Findings from the Study
The study reveals several critical trends and benchmarks that can help publishers strengthen editorial teams and promote equity:
- Compensation Drivers: Editor compensation correlates more strongly with professional income, journal selectivity, and workload than with a journal’s Impact Factor.
- Gender Representation: Women remain underrepresented in senior editorial roles, comprising only 30% of editors-in-chief. However, no significant evidence of gender-based pay inequity was found at the top editorial level.
- Research Integrity: Almost one-third of journals reported encountering fraudulent submissions, while over half have now introduced dedicated staff roles to uphold research ethics.
These findings serve as actionable benchmarks, enabling publishers to foster equitable compensation practices, attract leading talent, and ensure operational integrity in scholarly publishing.
A Resource for Evidence-Based Decision-Making
For years, scholarly publishers have struggled to navigate editor compensation without reliable data, often relying on historical norms or speculative estimates. This study fills that gap, offering robust, evidence-based guidance tailored to journal size, subject matter, editorial responsibilities, and more.
“By delivering this robust analysis, we aim to empower publishers to make evidence-based decisions that support equity, accountability, and excellence in scholarly publishing,” said Annette Hager, Senior Consultant at KGL Consulting.
Driving Equity and Integrity in Publishing
The 2024 Editorial Compensation Benchmark Study highlights the critical need to address gender disparities in editorial leadership while emphasizing the growing importance of dedicated roles to safeguard research integrity. These findings align with broader industry efforts to enhance accountability and inclusion within the global research ecosystem.
Accessing the Study
A report summarizing the study’s findings is available for non-participants. For further information or to purchase the report, visit www.kwglobal.com/compensation-study.
About KGL Consulting
Founded in 2000, KGL Consulting provides strategic advisory services for the scholarly publishing industry, including business modeling, market research, editorial workflow optimization, and editor recruiting. With a focus on empowering publishers to adapt to evolving trends, KGL Consulting is a trusted partner for building sustainable and impactful publishing operations.
About KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd. (KGL)
KGL is a premier industry provider, offering comprehensive solutions across the publishing lifecycle. From editorial and peer review to online hosting and transformative solutions, KGL serves STEM, HSS, and educational publishing markets worldwide. A division of CJK Group, Inc., KGL combines over 200 years of publishing expertise with state-of-the-art technologies like Smart Suite and PubFactory to deliver unmatched services. Learn more at www.kwglobal.com.