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The differences between communications 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 a communications editor and a copy editor. Additionally, a copy editor has an average salary of $62,599, which is higher than the $41,611 average annual salary of a communications editor.
The top three skills for a communications editor include web content, phone calls and facebook. The most important skills for a copy editor are proofreading, house style, and digital publishing.
| Communications Editor | Copy Editor | |
| Yearly salary | $41,611 | $62,599 |
| Hourly rate | $20.01 | $30.10 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 26,267 | 4,866 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 83% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Communication editors write and review documents, statements, and articles used in the press releases, publications, and other informational materials in an organization. The editors plan and coordinate the content of materials. They collaborate with management and any other staff in identifying the information to research topics, write and edit documentation, and release. Typically, they are working for a media company, government agency, or corporation. They may also arrange page layouts of photographs, advertising, and articles.
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.
Communications editors and copy editors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Communications Editor | Copy Editor | |
| Average salary | $41,611 | $62,599 |
| Salary range | Between $15,000 And $112,000 | Between $39,000 And $98,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Moody's | PayPal |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Finance |
There are a few differences between a communications editor and a copy editor in terms of educational background:
| Communications Editor | Copy Editor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 83% |
| Most common major | Journalism | English |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between communications editors' and copy editors' demographics:
| Communications Editor | Copy Editor | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.9% Female, 65.1% | Male, 39.2% Female, 60.8% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |