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Contract writer vs content editor

The differences between contract writers and content 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 contract writer, becoming a content editor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a contract writer has an average salary of $91,260, which is higher than the $61,694 average annual salary of a content editor.

The top three skills for a contract writer include web content, SEO and press releases. The most important skills for a content editor are digital content, web content, and digital marketing.

Contract writer vs content editor overview

Contract WriterContent Editor
Yearly salary$91,260$61,694
Hourly rate$43.88$29.66
Growth rate4%-5%
Number of jobs23,67118,586
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Average age4244
Years of experience24

Contract writer vs content editor salary

Contract writers and content editors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Contract WriterContent Editor
Average salary$91,260$61,694
Salary rangeBetween $61,000 And $136,000Between $41,000 And $91,000
Highest paying City-New York, NY
Highest paying state-New York
Best paying company-Apple
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between contract writer and content editor education

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

Contract WriterContent Editor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Most common majorEnglishEnglish
Most common collegeUniversity of HoustonNorthwestern University

Contract writer vs content editor demographics

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

Contract WriterContent Editor
Average age4244
Gender ratioMale, 38.5% Female, 61.5%Male, 43.5% Female, 56.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.1% 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, 8.0% Asian, 7.1% White, 76.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage16%12%

Differences between contract writer and content editor duties and responsibilities

Contract writer example responsibilities.

  • Manage the proposal lifecycle, including RFP analysis, regular communications, proposal development and production consistent with branding strategies.
  • Manage the proposal lifecycle, including RFP analysis, regular communications, proposal development and production consistent with branding strategies.
  • Interview subject matter experts and process source data to write biographies and profiles.
  • Post social media and hospital promotional/patient testimonial YouTube videos.

Content editor example responsibilities.

  • Work with W3C standardize CSS to achieve design goals.
  • Coordinate and manage a team of photographers who work on NBA games throughout the league.
  • Identify, create and manage QA projects to improve data consistency and accuracy using SQL to extract data.
  • Manage editorial department by editing and publishing daily content for website and daily e-newsletter.
  • Develop SEO strategies to increase profitability and manage social media to spread brand awareness and bolster readership.
  • Develop social media content for different outlets such as Facebook, Instagram, Youtube channel and the blog's webpage.
  • Show more

Contract writer vs content editor skills

Common contract writer skills
  • Web Content, 15%
  • SEO, 12%
  • Press Releases, 12%
  • Blog Posts, 12%
  • Website Copy, 4%
  • Copywriting, 4%
Common content editor skills
  • Digital Content, 8%
  • Web Content, 7%
  • Digital Marketing, 4%
  • WordPress, 4%
  • Video Content, 4%
  • Content Marketing, 4%

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