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The differences between assignment editors and staff writers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an assignment editor, becoming a staff writer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an assignment editor has an average salary of $48,582, which is higher than the $44,844 average annual salary of a staff writer.
The top three skills for an assignment editor include twitter, assignment desk and phone calls. The most important skills for a staff writer are feature stories, news stories, and event coverage.
| Assignment Editor | Staff Writer | |
| Yearly salary | $48,582 | $44,844 |
| Hourly rate | $23.36 | $21.56 |
| Growth rate | -5% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 11,919 | 80,547 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 85% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
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.
A staff writer is an individual who works in the television (TV) or entertainment industry to provide standard content such as news reports, reviews, and features. Since writing content is important, staff writers must be able to collaborate and brainstorm ideas with other staff members in the production process. They must attend conferences, events, or seminars to meet other people in the industry. Staff writers must also possess knowledge in scriptwriting and an in-depth understanding of the entertainment industry.
Assignment editors and staff writers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assignment Editor | Staff Writer | |
| Average salary | $48,582 | $44,844 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $74,000 | Between $29,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New York | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | The Washington Post | The New York Times Company |
| Best paying industry | Media | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between an assignment editor and a staff writer in terms of educational background:
| Assignment Editor | Staff Writer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 85% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Most common major | Communication | Journalism |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between assignment editors' and staff writers' demographics:
| Assignment Editor | Staff Writer | |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.9% Female, 51.1% | Male, 49.2% Female, 50.8% |
| 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, 6.7% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 8.8% White, 71.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 11% |