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Editor, freelance vs assistant editor

The differences between editors, freelance and assistant editors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an editor, freelance and an assistant editor. Additionally, an editor, freelance has an average salary of $67,947, which is higher than the $52,284 average annual salary of an assistant editor.

The top three skills for an editor, freelance include music videos, web content and fiction. The most important skills for an assistant editor are editorial content, video footage, and web content.

Editor, freelance vs assistant editor overview

Editor, FreelanceAssistant Editor
Yearly salary$67,947$52,284
Hourly rate$32.67$25.14
Growth rate-5%-5%
Number of jobs8,6088,716
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 76%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does an editor, freelance do?

An Editor, Freelance is responsible for reading content and correcting for errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. They work with writers to help their ideas and stories succeed.

What does an assistant editor do?

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.

Editor, freelance vs assistant editor salary

Editors, freelance and assistant editors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Editor, FreelanceAssistant Editor
Average salary$67,947$52,284
Salary rangeBetween $45,000 And $102,000Between $34,000 And $78,000
Highest paying City-Huntington, NY
Highest paying state-New York
Best paying company-Apple
Best paying industry-Media

Differences between editor, freelance and assistant editor education

There are a few differences between an editor, freelance and an assistant editor in terms of educational background:

Editor, FreelanceAssistant Editor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 76%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Most common majorEnglishEnglish
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Editor, freelance vs assistant editor demographics

Here are the differences between editors, freelance' and assistant editors' demographics:

Editor, FreelanceAssistant Editor
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 41.3% Female, 58.7%Male, 45.9% Female, 54.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 7.1% White, 76.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%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 Percentage12%12%

Differences between editor, freelance and assistant editor duties and responsibilities

Editor, freelance example responsibilities.

  • Manage social media pages such as Facebook and Pinterest to promote.
  • Communicate with transportation managers, administrators, equipment operators and others for fulfillment of copy to achieve editorial goals.
  • Review promotional materials to ensure that legal and FDA requirements are meet.
  • Perform editing services for manuscripts submit for publication; editing fiction and non-fiction submissions.
  • Create video compression settings for YouTube upload.
  • Proofread PDF shoe catalog and compare against source spreadsheet.
  • Show more

Assistant editor example responsibilities.

  • Lead bureau newsgathering in high-pressure, breaking news situations.
  • Manage the budget for all of VOA s primary newsgathering.
  • Produce e-newsletters, manage website content, write headlines and captions, utilize SEO and analyze digital traffic.
  • Communicate with transportation managers, administrators, equipment operators and others for fulfillment of copy to achieve editorial goals.
  • Ensure compliance with PRC and FDA guidelines.
  • Increase social media presence and traffic through Facebook and Instagram.
  • Show more

Editor, freelance vs assistant editor skills

Common editor, freelance skills
  • Music Videos, 14%
  • Web Content, 9%
  • Fiction, 6%
  • Track Changes, 5%
  • Promotional Videos, 4%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 4%
Common assistant editor skills
  • Editorial Content, 9%
  • Video Footage, 8%
  • Web Content, 5%
  • Media Management, 4%
  • Production Process, 4%
  • Twitter, 3%

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