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Content writer vs assistant editor

The differences between content writers 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 content writer, becoming an assistant editor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a content writer has an average salary of $58,918, which is higher than the $52,284 average annual salary of an assistant editor.

The top three skills for a content writer include digital marketing, wordpress and web content. The most important skills for an assistant editor are editorial content, video footage, and web content.

Content writer vs assistant editor overview

Content WriterAssistant Editor
Yearly salary$58,918$52,284
Hourly rate$28.33$25.14
Growth rate4%-5%
Number of jobs19,6218,716
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Average age4244
Years of experience24

What does a content writer do?

The job of content writers is to create the best possible written or visual content ranging from blog posts to press releases. They produce the content for various types of websites, including social networks, news aggregators, and e-commerce sites. The job of content writers is not limited to writing, but also ensuring that the content connects or is relevant to the website pages. They are expected to set the tone of the website and revise the content upon customers' or clients' requests. They are also responsible for assisting in the creation of style guides.

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.

Content writer vs assistant editor salary

Content writers and assistant editors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Content WriterAssistant Editor
Average salary$58,918$52,284
Salary rangeBetween $40,000 And $84,000Between $34,000 And $78,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAHuntington, NY
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew York
Best paying companyCiscoApple
Best paying industryFinanceMedia

Differences between content writer and assistant editor education

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

Content WriterAssistant Editor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Most common majorEnglishEnglish
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyNorthwestern University

Content writer vs assistant editor demographics

Here are the differences between content writers' and assistant editors' demographics:

Content WriterAssistant Editor
Average age4244
Gender ratioMale, 39.8% Female, 60.2%Male, 45.9% Female, 54.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.0% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 5.0% White, 75.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%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 Percentage16%12%

Differences between content writer and assistant editor duties and responsibilities

Content writer example responsibilities.

  • Implement and manage Salesforce and Marketo for client to establish lead nurturing campaigns.
  • Maintain guest blogging strategy and policies to achieve a consistently diverse authorship and to grow readership.
  • Manage the editorial production of the pamphlets, brochures and graphic material to target worldwide audiences including china.
  • Manage proposal process from RFP (request for proposal) receipt to writing and editing various contributions to final RFP submission.
  • Collaborate with overseas team and manage documents using SharePoint to conceptualize and generate new marketing content.
  • Produce a wide array of literature ranging from poetry to short stories.
  • Show more

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

Content writer vs assistant editor skills

Common content writer skills
  • Digital Marketing, 10%
  • WordPress, 9%
  • Web Content, 6%
  • Blog Posts, 6%
  • Digital Content, 3%
  • Content Marketing, 3%
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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