Also called: Puzzle Editor, Cruciverbalist
Creates crossword puzzles and word games for newspapers, apps, and puzzle books.
A constructor fills a grid with interlocking words and writes witty clues; puzzle editors at places like The New York Times test and edit puzzles all day.
Approximate; mostly freelance ($300-$2,500 per puzzle); a few puzzle editor jobs pay well.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
No formal education, about 0 years after high school. No degree; love of words and lots of practice.
Ways in: Self-taught. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: English, Linguistics, Mathematics.
Growing about average. Puzzle and word game apps are popular.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI word-fill tools speed construction, but clever themes and clues that delight solvers stay human.
Classes: English, Math, History, AP Language.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-3043.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.