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The differences between desk editors and 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 desk editor and an editor. Additionally, a desk editor has an average salary of $53,061, which is higher than the $52,107 average annual salary of an editor.
The top three skills for a desk editor include assignment desk, news stories and facebook. The most important skills for an editor are web content, video content, and SEO.
| Desk Editor | Editor | |
| Yearly salary | $53,061 | $52,107 |
| Hourly rate | $25.51 | $25.05 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 29,023 | 15,115 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
In journalism, a desk editor is in charge of performing extensive research to find new leads and potential stories for news outlets. Among their responsibilities include monitoring mediums such as the internet and police scanners, communicating with tipsters through calls and correspondence, coordinating with police officers and witnesses, and conducting interviews when necessary. Furthermore, as a desk editor, it is essential to be proactive and alert in order to produce quality materials in a timely and efficient manner, all while adhering to the station's policies and regulations.
An editor is the one responsible for polishing and refining a story, article, and any material for publication in newspapers, magazines, books, or websites. Editors have the power to either accept or reject a material as they need to ensure that every manuscript which will be offered for publishing is at the best version as it can be. There are several types of editors, from copy editors, books to managing editors, but they have few skills in common, like strong writing skills, good judgment, and leadership abilities to help guide the whole editorial team. Most of them work in the office, but it is quite becoming more regular for them to work remotely.
Desk editors and editors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Desk Editor | Editor | |
| Average salary | $53,061 | $52,107 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $81,000 | Between $34,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | - | New York |
| Best paying company | - | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a desk editor and an editor in terms of educational background:
| Desk Editor | Editor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Journalism | English |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between desk editors' and editors' demographics:
| Desk Editor | Editor | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.4% Female, 50.6% | Male, 46.4% Female, 53.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 7.0% White, 76.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |