A consulting editor is a non-staff, non-salaried literary editor. It may be an independent, freelance editor, or a scholar providing expertise via consulting.
A state editor in a provincial or nationalgovernment department is a salaried or honorary head of a government department. This post normally goes to members of the central services. The holder of such a post has the responsibility of editing and publishing gazetteer of more than one district of the province he/she is based in.