Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between assignment editors and assistant editors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an assignment editor and an assistant editor. Additionally, an assistant editor has an average salary of $52,284, which is higher than the $48,582 average annual salary of an assignment editor.
The top three skills for an assignment editor include twitter, assignment desk and phone calls. The most important skills for an assistant editor are editorial content, video footage, and web content.
| Assignment Editor | Assistant Editor | |
| Yearly salary | $48,582 | $52,284 |
| Hourly rate | $23.36 | $25.14 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 11,919 | 8,716 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 85% | Bachelor's Degree, 81% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An assignment editor is responsible for handling and delegating tasks to news staff, identifying news sources, and developing accurate and efficient news articles for media and publishing companies. Assignment editors monitor situations for the public's awareness, requiring them to work at the office and conduct field investigations alternately. They also manage the scope and limitation of news coverage, finalizing scripts for television airings, and ensuring that all details are factual-based. An assignment editor should be highly communicative and organizational, as well as attentive, having the ability to finish newsworthy stories within strict deadlines.
An assistant editor is an individual responsible for assisting an editor-in-chief or editor-at-large of a newspaper, magazine, radio program, or website. Assistant editors hold meetings with staff and freelance writers to discuss new, fresh and original content for projects on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. They review assignments handed in by writers or reporters for sense, accuracy, readability, and content. Assistant editors must also utilize new media applications such as Twitter and Facebook to draw attention to an article or cause.
Assignment editors and assistant editors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assignment Editor | Assistant Editor | |
| Average salary | $48,582 | $52,284 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $74,000 | Between $34,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Huntington, NY |
| Highest paying state | New York | New York |
| Best paying company | The Washington Post | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Media | Media |
There are a few differences between an assignment editor and an assistant editor in terms of educational background:
| Assignment Editor | Assistant Editor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 85% | Bachelor's Degree, 81% |
| Most common major | Communication | English |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between assignment editors' and assistant editors' demographics:
| Assignment Editor | Assistant Editor | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.9% Female, 51.1% | Male, 45.9% Female, 54.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.6% Asian, 6.3% White, 76.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 7.0% White, 76.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |