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The differences between associate editors and journalists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an associate editor, becoming a journalist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a journalist has an average salary of $60,828, 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 journalist are news stories, multimedia, and story development.
| Associate Editor | Journalist | |
| Yearly salary | $55,999 | $60,828 |
| Hourly rate | $26.92 | $29.24 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -10% |
| Number of jobs | 4,664 | 11,488 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
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.
A journalist is responsible for creating written correspondence, covering various subjects as the management requires. This task involves a lot of research investigations, conducting interviews, and gathering reliable sources to verify the authenticity of data before releasing the articles on news portals and other social platforms. Journalists should have excellent communication skills, both written and oral, conveying information to the target audience with high accuracy and efficiency. They analyze opinions and testimonies, create eye-catching headlines, and ensure adherence to deadlines.
Associate editors and journalists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate Editor | Journalist | |
| Average salary | $55,999 | $60,828 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $79,000 | Between $38,000 And $95,000 |
| Highest paying City | Stoughton, MA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | New York |
| Best paying company | Eli Lilly and Company | Bloomberg |
| Best paying industry | Media | Finance |
There are a few differences between an associate editor and a journalist in terms of educational background:
| Associate Editor | Journalist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | English | Journalism |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between associate editors' and journalists' demographics:
| Associate Editor | Journalist | |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.2% Female, 56.8% | Male, 46.6% Female, 53.4% |
| 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, 6.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 9.6% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 10% |