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Book reviewer vs assistant editor

The differences between book reviewers and assistant editors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a book reviewer, becoming an assistant editor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an assistant editor has an average salary of $52,284, which is higher than the $44,791 average annual salary of a book reviewer.

The top three skills for a book reviewer include fiction, literature and biographies. The most important skills for an assistant editor are editorial content, video footage, and web content.

Book reviewer vs assistant editor overview

Book ReviewerAssistant Editor
Yearly salary$44,791$52,284
Hourly rate$21.53$25.14
Growth rate-10%-5%
Number of jobs11,1428,716
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Average age4044
Years of experience24

What does a book reviewer do?

Book reviewers are literature professionals who are responsible for providing opinions and criticisms about the books they read to the public. These book reviewers are required to provide the plot summary of a book to guide potential readers and then comment about the writing style of the book's author. Most book reviewers usually work as freelance writers, while others are employed by a particular publication to write objective reviews for their newspapers, magazines, and blogs. Book reviewers must also review audiobooks for the quality narration of their plots while conducting interviews with their authors.

What does an assistant editor do?

An assistant editor is an individual responsible for assisting an editor-in-chief or editor-at-large of a newspaper, magazine, radio program, or website. Assistant editors hold meetings with staff and freelance writers to discuss new, fresh and original content for projects on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. They review assignments handed in by writers or reporters for sense, accuracy, readability, and content. Assistant editors must also utilize new media applications such as Twitter and Facebook to draw attention to an article or cause.

Book reviewer vs assistant editor salary

Book reviewers and assistant editors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Book ReviewerAssistant Editor
Average salary$44,791$52,284
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $88,000Between $34,000 And $78,000
Highest paying City-Huntington, NY
Highest paying state-New York
Best paying company-Apple
Best paying industry-Media

Differences between book reviewer and assistant editor education

There are a few differences between a book reviewer and an assistant editor in terms of educational background:

Book ReviewerAssistant Editor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Most common majorEnglishEnglish
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyNorthwestern University

Book reviewer vs assistant editor demographics

Here are the differences between book reviewers' and assistant editors' demographics:

Book ReviewerAssistant Editor
Average age4044
Gender ratioMale, 25.7% Female, 74.3%Male, 45.9% Female, 54.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 9.6% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 7.0% White, 76.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%12%

Differences between book reviewer and assistant editor duties and responsibilities

Book reviewer example responsibilities.

  • Post a book review, including HTML codes (if applicable), on personal blog.
  • Write book reviews for prominent genre literature magazine
  • Review economics text books to determine level of mathematics require to comprehend material.
  • Participate in meetings with inter agencies and other entities as appropriate to facilitate and enhance the Medicaid eligibility determination process.
  • Participate in meetings with inter agencies and other entities as appropriate to facilitate and enhance the Medicaid eligibility determination process.

Assistant editor example responsibilities.

  • Lead bureau newsgathering in high-pressure, breaking news situations.
  • Manage the budget for all of VOA s primary newsgathering.
  • Produce e-newsletters, manage website content, write headlines and captions, utilize SEO and analyze digital traffic.
  • Communicate with transportation managers, administrators, equipment operators and others for fulfillment of copy to achieve editorial goals.
  • Ensure compliance with PRC and FDA guidelines.
  • Increase social media presence and traffic through Facebook and Instagram.
  • Show more

Book reviewer vs assistant editor skills

Common book reviewer skills
  • Fiction, 35%
  • Literature, 27%
  • Biographies, 14%
  • Poetry, 12%
  • Non-Fiction, 11%
Common assistant editor skills
  • Editorial Content, 9%
  • Video Footage, 8%
  • Web Content, 5%
  • Media Management, 4%
  • Production Process, 4%
  • Twitter, 3%

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