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Content manager vs content developer

The differences between content managers and content developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become a content manager, becoming a content developer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a content manager has an average salary of $75,124, which is higher than the $72,030 average annual salary of a content developer.

The top three skills for a content manager include digital marketing, content strategy and content creation. The most important skills for a content developer are content development, digital marketing, and subject matter experts.

Content manager vs content developer overview

Content ManagerContent Developer
Yearly salary$75,124$72,030
Hourly rate$36.12$34.63
Growth rate10%13%
Number of jobs108,05882,250
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age3937
Years of experience104

What does a content manager do?

A Content Manager is focused on creating, improving, and maintaining content to achieve the business goals. They lead a team of copywriters and content executives.

What does a content developer do?

A content developer is responsible for creating digital content, designing technical deliverables, and developing content strategies by analyzing current market trends to attract clients, driving more revenues, and increasing the company's profitability. Content developers also manage the distribution of the contents, following the clients' specifications or the business requirements. They also coordinate with other project teams to ensure the effectiveness and accuracy of the contents, focusing on its appeal to the target audience. A content developer must have a keen eye for details, especially on doing quality content checks before publishing.

Content manager vs content developer salary

Content managers and content developers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Content ManagerContent Developer
Average salary$75,124$72,030
Salary rangeBetween $50,000 And $111,000Between $51,000 And $101,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonCalifornia
Best paying companyMetaGoogle
Best paying industryTechnologyInternet

Differences between content manager and content developer education

There are a few differences between a content manager and a content developer in terms of educational background:

Content ManagerContent Developer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common majorEnglishEnglish
Most common collegeUniversity of GeorgiaMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Content manager vs content developer demographics

Here are the differences between content managers' and content developers' demographics:

Content ManagerContent Developer
Average age3937
Gender ratioMale, 49.1% Female, 50.9%Male, 51.3% Female, 48.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 6.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 12.9% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage10%9%

Differences between content manager and content developer duties and responsibilities

Content manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage social media, blogging, SEO strategy, and outreach.
  • Assign stories to freelancers and manage that editorial process, including optimizing original content for SEO.
  • Manage, coordinate, and confirm all content updates in the content management system including UI messaging and user assistance.
  • Manage social media marketing, including Instagram
  • Manage implementation of marketing automation software and lead integration with CRM to improve tracking and visibility into campaign performance.
  • Web management responsibilities include WordPress and basic HTML.
  • Show more

Content developer example responsibilities.

  • Develop scripts to automate operations and optimize web performance (jQuery).
  • Manage, design, and create new HTML help look and feel that provide cost-effective ways to reuse content.
  • Analyze, plan, develop, QA, and deliver training courses for instructor lead training and web base training.
  • Manage social media marketing, including Instagram
  • Design a mobile-first responsive layout compliant with HTML5 and CSS3 standards.
  • Develop jQuery plugins, config files, Javascript files and CSS files.
  • Show more

Content manager vs content developer skills

Common content manager skills
  • Digital Marketing, 9%
  • Content Strategy, 7%
  • Content Creation, 6%
  • Project Management, 6%
  • Web Content, 6%
  • Content Development, 4%
Common content developer skills
  • Content Development, 10%
  • Digital Marketing, 8%
  • Subject Matter Experts, 5%
  • Digital Content, 5%
  • Project Management, 5%
  • PowerPoint, 4%

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