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The differences between digital 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 digital editor, becoming a staff writer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a digital editor has an average salary of $60,710, which is higher than the $44,844 average annual salary of a staff writer.
The top three skills for a digital editor include digital content, instagram and facebook. The most important skills for a staff writer are feature stories, news stories, and event coverage.
| Digital Editor | Staff Writer | |
| Yearly salary | $60,710 | $44,844 |
| Hourly rate | $29.19 | $21.56 |
| Growth rate | -5% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 22,500 | 80,547 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
Digital Editors research, create and produce images and content used on a website. They are involved in copywriting, editing, proofreading, and supervising artwork, graphics, and video. They use knowledge in SEO and social media marketing to optimize traffic. They determine KPI, track website traffic, and produce a report for presentation. They also work with cross-functional teams such as marketing and web design to improve overall content strategy. A Digital Editor must have in-depth knowledge of Adobe Creative Suites to render attractive web designs.
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.
Digital editors and staff writers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Digital Editor | Staff Writer | |
| Average salary | $60,710 | $44,844 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $84,000 | Between $29,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New York | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | ServiceNow | The New York Times Company |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a digital editor and a staff writer in terms of educational background:
| Digital Editor | Staff Writer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Most common major | Journalism | Journalism |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between digital editors' and staff writers' demographics:
| Digital Editor | Staff Writer | |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 54.5% Female, 45.5% | Male, 49.2% Female, 50.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 7.2% White, 76.3% 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% |