A variety of careers are available in the magazine industry, from the obvious jobs in editorial and advertising to work in supporting areas such as circulation and marketing. The majority of consumer magazines are published in New York City; however, many career opportunities exist elsewhere, particularly at magazines published for city, state, or regional audiences and at magazines that serve trades and associations.

While staff positions vary from one magazine to the next, most have the same basic staff roles. Editorial functions are carried out by people who work with words and images to create the editorial product. The editor or editor-in-chief is the top editorial position at a magazine and is responsible for directing all content and implementing the mission of the magazine. The editor's right-hand person, the managing editor, is responsible for following the day-to-day operations of a magazine, and...