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Author vs program writer

The differences between authors and program writers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an author and a program writer. Additionally, an author has an average salary of $78,368, which is higher than the $78,147 average annual salary of a program writer.

The top three skills for an author include veterans, JAN and DOD. The most important skills for a program writer are technical documentation, code samples, and API.

Author vs program writer overview

AuthorProgram Writer
Yearly salary$78,368$78,147
Hourly rate$37.68$37.57
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs95367,545
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

Author vs program writer salary

Authors and program writers have different pay scales, as shown below.

AuthorProgram Writer
Average salary$78,368$78,147
Salary rangeBetween $51,000 And $118,000Between $50,000 And $121,000
Highest paying CityBeverly, MA-
Highest paying stateMassachusetts-
Best paying companyJohn Wiley & Sons-
Best paying industryTechnology-

Differences between author and program writer education

There are a few differences between an author and a program writer in terms of educational background:

AuthorProgram Writer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common majorBusinessEnglish
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyHarvard University

Author vs program writer demographics

Here are the differences between authors' and program writers' demographics:

AuthorProgram Writer
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 49.5% Female, 50.5%Male, 57.7% Female, 42.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 4.9% White, 75.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 4.9% White, 75.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between author and program writer duties and responsibilities

Author example responsibilities.

  • Manage and integrate web content for an international client using proprietary CMS software.
  • Manage the proposal lifecycle, including RFP analysis, regular communications, proposal development and production consistent with branding strategies.
  • Work on DNA mutagenesis, DNA construction (insertion, deletion), PCR.
  • Create online marketing materials including a website that employs HTML, JavaScript, PHP, AJAX, and MySQL.
  • Authenticate identity and verify that requests for PKI digital certificates meet all requirements of DOD and internal procedures.
  • Authore several books on JavaScript, HTML/CSS
  • Show more

Program writer example responsibilities.

  • Manage and implement MSN adCenter API SDK project.
  • Manage projects diligently under aggressive deadlines while maintaining editorial integrity and ensuring stories have entertainment and/or educational value.
  • Contribute to API design review, and security review meetings with developers and PMs.
  • Serve as lead administrator for the team's SharePoint site.
  • Coordinate logistics management for signal elements, including securing training sites, movement of personnel, communications, and equipment.
  • Apply developmental edit to 'how-to' content from SMEs, re-wrote, and deliver as MSDN blog posts.
  • Show more

Author vs program writer skills

Common author skills
  • Veterans, 17%
  • JAN, 15%
  • DOD, 10%
  • HTML, 9%
  • Twitter, 5%
  • Fiction, 4%
Common program writer skills
  • Technical Documentation, 29%
  • Code Samples, 27%
  • API, 20%
  • Developer Documentation, 7%
  • SDK, 5%
  • C++, 4%

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