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The differences between creative 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 creative writer, becoming an assistant editor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a creative writer has an average salary of $73,095, which is higher than the $52,284 average annual salary of an assistant editor.
The top three skills for a creative writer include digital marketing, proofreading and email campaigns. The most important skills for an assistant editor are editorial content, video footage, and web content.
| Creative Writer | Assistant Editor | |
| Yearly salary | $73,095 | $52,284 |
| Hourly rate | $35.14 | $25.14 |
| Growth rate | 4% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 19,129 | 8,716 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 81% |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
Creative writers are professionals who employ their imagination and discipline to convey new and interesting ideas to an audience in an engaging way, such as books, screenplays, and promotional marketing material. These writers must select a subject or theme for their writing projects while conducting research to obtain factual information and authentic detail for their content. They must review and submit their work for approval to meet the needs of their clients, publishers, or directors. Creative writers can also work for magazines, websites, and advertising or become a freelancer.
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.
Creative writers and assistant editors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Creative Writer | Assistant Editor | |
| Average salary | $73,095 | $52,284 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $114,000 | Between $34,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | Huntington, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Internet | Media |
There are a few differences between a creative writer and an assistant editor in terms of educational background:
| Creative Writer | Assistant Editor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 81% |
| Most common major | English | English |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between creative writers' and assistant editors' demographics:
| Creative Writer | Assistant Editor | |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.8% Female, 54.2% | Male, 45.9% Female, 54.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 4.9% White, 75.6% 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 Percentage | 16% | 12% |