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The differences between associate 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 associate editor, becoming a staff writer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an associate editor has an average salary of $55,999, which is higher than the $44,844 average annual salary of a staff writer.
The top three skills for an associate editor include wordpress, web content and SEO. The most important skills for a staff writer are feature stories, news stories, and event coverage.
| Associate Editor | Staff Writer | |
| Yearly salary | $55,999 | $44,844 |
| Hourly rate | $26.92 | $21.56 |
| Growth rate | -5% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 4,664 | 80,547 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| 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 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.
Associate editors and staff writers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate Editor | Staff Writer | |
| Average salary | $55,999 | $44,844 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $79,000 | Between $29,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Stoughton, MA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Eli Lilly and Company | The New York Times Company |
| Best paying industry | Media | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between an associate editor and a staff writer in terms of educational background:
| Associate Editor | Staff Writer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Most common major | English | Journalism |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between associate editors' and staff writers' demographics:
| Associate Editor | Staff Writer | |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.2% Female, 56.8% | Male, 49.2% Female, 50.8% |
| 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, 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% |