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The differences between editorial assistants and assistant operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an editorial assistant and an assistant operator. Additionally, an editorial assistant has an average salary of $43,141, which is higher than the $37,607 average annual salary of an assistant operator.
The top three skills for an editorial assistant include fact check, fiction and press releases. The most important skills for an assistant operator are customer service, ladders, and safety procedures.
| Editorial Assistant | Assistant Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $43,141 | $37,607 |
| Hourly rate | $20.74 | $18.08 |
| Growth rate | -8% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 26,839 | 88,093 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An editorial assistant is primarily responsible for performing support-related tasks for an editor or editing staff. Most of the duties will be clerical such as writing content for print and media, answering calls and correspondence, responding to inquiries, running errands, and following directives from the editor. There are also instances when an editorial assistant must perform fact-checking or proofreading tasks, arrange appointments and travel documents, process paperwork, greet visitors, and even attend meetings and other work-related events.
The duties of an assistant operator depend on one's industry of employment or the kind of machine that they are operating. Typically, their tasks may revolve around coordinating with operators and other staff, handling and managing documents, understanding blueprints, and adhering to the directives of operators and supervisors. Furthermore, as an assistant operator, it is essential to perform support tasks, such as preparing tools and conducting regular maintenance checks to ensure the efficiency of machines and maintain a safe work environment.
Editorial assistants and assistant operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Editorial Assistant | Assistant Operator | |
| Average salary | $43,141 | $37,607 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $53,000 | Between $28,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Denver, CO | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Colorado | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Columbia University in the City of New York | Massachusetts General Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Government | Energy |
There are a few differences between an editorial assistant and an assistant operator in terms of educational background:
| Editorial Assistant | Assistant Operator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | English | Business |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between editorial assistants' and assistant operators' demographics:
| Editorial Assistant | Assistant Operator | |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 27.7% Female, 72.3% | Male, 76.8% Female, 23.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 3.8% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |