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The differences between editors and writers 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 and a writer. Additionally, a writer has an average salary of $66,143, which is higher than the $52,107 average annual salary of an editor.
The top three skills for an editor include web content, video content and SEO. The most important skills for a writer are work ethic, customer service, and web content.
| Editor | Writer | |
| Yearly salary | $52,107 | $66,143 |
| Hourly rate | $25.05 | $31.80 |
| Growth rate | -5% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 15,115 | 13,931 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
A writer can have different responsibilities depending on which industry or line of work they are involved. There are writers assigned in a corporate setting, some in journalism, while there are also writers in the entertainment Industry. Although they focus on varying types of writing, they all function to inform. Among the typical duties of writers involve producing content within allotted time or deadline, gather information and verify to ensure accuracy, proofread, and undergo review and revisions.
Editors and writers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Editor | Writer | |
| Average salary | $52,107 | $66,143 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $78,000 | Between $40,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between an editor and a writer in terms of educational background:
| Editor | Writer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | English | English |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between editors' and writers' demographics:
| Editor | Writer | |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.4% Female, 53.6% | Male, 46.2% Female, 53.8% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 5.0% White, 75.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 16% |