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Deputy editor vs executive editor

The differences between deputy editors and executive editors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a deputy editor and an executive editor. Additionally, an executive editor has an average salary of $110,541, which is higher than the $96,894 average annual salary of a deputy editor.

The top three skills for a deputy editor include SEO, editorial calendar and editor-in-chief. The most important skills for an executive editor are editorial content, editorial calendar, and digital content.

Deputy editor vs executive editor overview

Deputy EditorExecutive Editor
Yearly salary$96,894$110,541
Hourly rate$46.58$53.14
Growth rate-5%-5%
Number of jobs13,47575,810
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 78%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does a deputy editor do?

A deputy editor provides support to the senior editor in overseeing a publishing company's daily operations. They primarily edit and review written materials for print and online publication, supervise the writers, manage budgets and timelines, present regular reports to the senior editor, and conduct evaluations to ensure procedures adhere to standards. They also work together with fellow editors to plan story concepts and strategies, manage editorial calendars, and delegate responsibilities among writers. Moreover, there are also times when a deputy editor writes and develops articles.

What does an executive editor do?

An executive editor supervises the editorial content of magazines, newspapers, or other publications. In the corporate setting, an executive editor often arranges a book's publishing. In a newspaper setting, an executive editor is the newsroom leader, and in larger newspapers, they coordinate all aspects of the publication's production. They must have the ability to manage subordinates and assistant editors and be experienced with Associated Press style.

Deputy editor vs executive editor salary

Deputy editors and executive editors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Deputy EditorExecutive Editor
Average salary$96,894$110,541
Salary rangeBetween $50,000 And $186,000Between $43,000 And $278,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYNew York, NY
Highest paying stateConnecticutNew York
Best paying companyThe Daily DotAmerican Media
Best paying industryMediaMedia

Differences between deputy editor and executive editor education

There are a few differences between a deputy editor and an executive editor in terms of educational background:

Deputy EditorExecutive Editor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 78%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Most common majorJournalismJournalism
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Deputy editor vs executive editor demographics

Here are the differences between deputy editors' and executive editors' demographics:

Deputy EditorExecutive Editor
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 54.3% Female, 45.7%Male, 50.1% Female, 49.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 7.3% White, 76.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 7.3% White, 76.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between deputy editor and executive editor duties and responsibilities

Deputy editor example responsibilities.

  • Manage SEO efforts through oversight of headline creation/editing and copy editing.
  • Lead round-the-clock daily editorial operations for outlet with industry-leading track record for accuracy and speed.
  • Oversee layout, content, copy editing, production, photography, editorial calendar, budget and advertising in the magazines.
  • Upload daily stories to Wordpress.
  • Authore HTML and CSS, and administer user experience (UX) initiatives.
  • Oversee SEO best practices and training of editorial team in those practices across all properties.
  • Show more

Executive editor example responsibilities.

  • Lead effort to publish works of fiction (Alfaguara imprint).
  • Manage content using CMS tools and ongoing social media campaign and reader engagement via social media networks and blog.
  • Acquire established writers and introduce new voices in genre fiction.
  • Leverage meticulous attention to detail in technical editing and proofreading all content from project inception to completion.
  • Analyze FrameMaker source document and provide feedback to XML architects to improve accuracy of conversion.

Deputy editor vs executive editor skills

Common deputy editor skills
  • SEO, 12%
  • Editorial Calendar, 9%
  • Editor-In-Chief, 9%
  • Facebook, 6%
  • News Stories, 6%
  • WordPress, 6%
Common executive editor skills
  • Editorial Content, 12%
  • Editorial Calendar, 8%
  • Digital Content, 6%
  • SEO, 6%
  • Editor-In-Chief, 6%
  • Content Strategy, 6%

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