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The differences between desk editors and staff writers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a desk editor, becoming a staff writer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a desk editor has an average salary of $53,061, which is higher than the $44,844 average annual salary of a staff writer.
The top three skills for a desk editor include assignment desk, news stories and facebook. The most important skills for a staff writer are feature stories, news stories, and event coverage.
| Desk Editor | Staff Writer | |
| Yearly salary | $53,061 | $44,844 |
| Hourly rate | $25.51 | $21.56 |
| Growth rate | -5% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 29,023 | 80,547 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
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.
A staff writer is an individual who works in the television (TV) or entertainment industry to provide standard content such as news reports, reviews, and features. Since writing content is important, staff writers must be able to collaborate and brainstorm ideas with other staff members in the production process. They must attend conferences, events, or seminars to meet other people in the industry. Staff writers must also possess knowledge in scriptwriting and an in-depth understanding of the entertainment industry.
Desk editors and staff writers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Desk Editor | Staff Writer | |
| Average salary | $53,061 | $44,844 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $81,000 | Between $29,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | - | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | - | The New York Times Company |
| Best paying industry | - | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a desk editor and a staff writer in terms of educational background:
| Desk Editor | Staff Writer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Most common major | Journalism | Journalism |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between desk editors' and staff writers' demographics:
| Desk Editor | Staff Writer | |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.4% Female, 50.6% | Male, 49.2% Female, 50.8% |
| 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, 6.7% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 8.8% White, 71.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 11% |