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Contract writer vs writer and editor

The differences between contract writers and writer and 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 writer and editor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a contract writer has an average salary of $91,260, which is higher than the $61,482 average annual salary of a writer and editor.

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

Contract writer vs writer and editor overview

Contract WriterWriter And Editor
Yearly salary$91,260$61,482
Hourly rate$43.88$29.56
Growth rate4%-5%
Number of jobs23,67114,865
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Average age4244
Years of experience24

Contract writer vs writer and editor salary

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

Contract WriterWriter And Editor
Average salary$91,260$61,482
Salary rangeBetween $61,000 And $136,000Between $36,000 And $103,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-Connecticut
Best paying company-Apple
Best paying industry-Internet

Differences between contract writer and writer and editor education

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

Contract WriterWriter And Editor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Most common majorEnglishEnglish
Most common collegeUniversity of HoustonNorthwestern University

Contract writer vs writer and editor demographics

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

Contract WriterWriter And Editor
Average age4244
Gender ratioMale, 38.5% Female, 61.5%Male, 40.0% Female, 60.0%
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, 3.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 7.3% White, 76.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage16%12%

Differences between contract writer and writer and 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.

Writer and editor example responsibilities.

  • Update website daily, manage Facebook/Twitter/ Instagram accounts.
  • Create articles featuring campus faculty and students, as well as lifestyle tips, and opinion editorials.
  • Work closely with magazine's editor-in-chief to hash out design ideas and content.
  • Gain 9k twitter followers in four months, and create a consistent fan base.
  • Assign stories to writers, edit them with SEO in mind, then post to proprietary CMS.
  • Pitch, write, and publish full length book/news relate articles-Edit and format images, SEO, HTML formatting
  • Show more

Contract writer vs writer and editor skills

Common contract writer skills
  • Web Content, 15%
  • SEO, 12%
  • Press Releases, 12%
  • Blog Posts, 12%
  • Website Copy, 4%
  • Copywriting, 4%
Common writer and editor skills
  • Web Content, 23%
  • Blog Posts, 8%
  • Press Releases, 8%
  • Writing Articles, 3%
  • Feature Stories, 3%
  • Photography, 3%

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