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The differences between associate editors and copy 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 associate editor and a copy editor. Additionally, a copy editor has an average salary of $62,599, which is higher than the $55,999 average annual salary of an associate editor.
The top three skills for an associate editor include wordpress, web content and SEO. The most important skills for a copy editor are proofreading, house style, and digital publishing.
| Associate Editor | Copy Editor | |
| Yearly salary | $55,999 | $62,599 |
| Hourly rate | $26.92 | $30.10 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 4,664 | 4,866 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 83% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
The primary role of an Associate Editor is to ensure that subordinates submit high-quality content. They review and edit copies, set deadlines, and supervise the production details of magazines, newspapers, books, or websites.
The primary job of copy editors is to check for misspellings, incorrect punctuation, and consistency in typography, words, and style. They also act as fact-checkers, proofreaders, and project managers, overseeing the workflow and communicating with other departments. A copy editor's other duties and responsibilities include checking content for readability and compliance with editorial policies, rewriting text to improve readability and clarity, and arranging page layouts of articles, photos, and advertisements. Formal training is not required for this role, but copy editors generally have a firm grasp and love for the English language's proper usage.
Associate editors and copy editors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate Editor | Copy Editor | |
| Average salary | $55,999 | $62,599 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $79,000 | Between $39,000 And $98,000 |
| Highest paying City | Stoughton, MA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Eli Lilly and Company | PayPal |
| Best paying industry | Media | Finance |
There are a few differences between an associate editor and a copy editor in terms of educational background:
| Associate Editor | Copy Editor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 83% |
| Most common major | English | English |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between associate editors' and copy editors' demographics:
| Associate Editor | Copy Editor | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.2% Female, 56.8% | Male, 39.2% Female, 60.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 7.2% White, 76.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 7.3% White, 76.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |