HarperCollins Workers Win Landmark Contract With Industry-Leading Entry Pay
The HarperCollins Union has approved a new three-year contract that sets a new benchmark for entry-level pay in publishing, signaling a major shift in industry standards.
Under the agreement, employees covered by the union will now start at $52,500 annually for a 35-hour workweek, making it the highest starting salary currently offered among major publishers. The contract also guarantees annual raises, with the starting salary climbing to $55,200 by 2028.
Overtime provisions have also been expanded. Employees will receive time-and-a-half pay for additional hours worked, and early-career staff are allowed to log up to three hours of overtime per week without prior approval. Factoring in that additional time, the union notes that entry-level workers could see their effective annual earnings reach approximately $57,000.
Workers will also receive ratification bonuses ranging from $1,000 to $3,000, depending on their tenure.
Beyond compensation, the contract introduces a series of workplace protections and career development measures. Entry-level employees must be considered for promotion after two years, while performance improvement plans have been extended from three weeks to six. At the end of that period, employees may opt for a voluntary separation that includes severance, which has also been expanded under the new terms.
Additional updates include improvements to time-off policies, bringing the total number of holidays to 18 per year, as well as a requirement that the company provide three months’ notice before making changes to hybrid work arrangements. The agreement also formally incorporates the company’s parental leave policies into the contract.
Union leadership emphasized that the deal reflects years of organizing and collective effort. “This contract is a testament to the solidarity we’ve built,” said union chair Caitlin Stamper. “It creates meaningful support for current employees while making the industry more sustainable for those just starting out.”
The new agreement follows a nearly three-month strike in 2022–2023, during which workers pushed for higher starting pay and improved conditions. At the time, the union’s target was a $50,000 minimum salary.
With this new contract, HarperCollins has moved ahead of competitors in entry-level compensation. Recent listings show starting salaries of around $51,000 at Penguin Random House and approximately $50,000 at other major publishers, including Simon & Schuster, Hachette, and Macmillan.
As the publishing landscape continues to evolve, the agreement could put pressure on other companies to revisit their own pay structures and workplace policies.