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The differences between editorial directors and production 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 editorial director and a production editor. Additionally, an editorial director has an average salary of $99,934, which is higher than the $53,275 average annual salary of a production editor.
The top three skills for an editorial director include editorial content, web content and editorial strategy. The most important skills for a production editor are proofreading, editorial production, and production process.
| Editorial Director | Production Editor | |
| Yearly salary | $99,934 | $53,275 |
| Hourly rate | $48.05 | $25.61 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 11,143 | 62,877 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An Editorial Director will plan, coordinate, and edit all written content for a publication or a website. As the Editorial Director, they are responsible for planning the company's vision for the publication, including its short- and long-term goals. They are also responsible for supervising other editors and developing the guidelines on the types of manuscripts they should seek. Other duties that Editorial Directors perform include planning the publication's contents, allocating work to editors-in-chief and editorial managers, and coordinating other departments' work as needed.
A production editor is responsible for checking publication materials before printing and distribution to ensure error-free and accurate content. Production editors must have excellent writing communication skills to perform editing and proofreading of materials efficiently, following strict requirements of publication deadlines. They also verify the resources of content, as well as identifying highly requested feature opportunities by coordinating with writers and other industry personalities. A production editor negotiates contract offers for writers, provides feedback reviews, and facilitates brainstorming sessions.
Editorial directors and production editors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Editorial Director | Production Editor | |
| Average salary | $99,934 | $53,275 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $144,000 | Between $41,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | New Haven, CT | Hartford, CT |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | Robert A.M. Stern Architects |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Media |
There are a few differences between an editorial director and a production editor in terms of educational background:
| Editorial Director | Production Editor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Most common major | English | English |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between editorial directors' and production editors' demographics:
| Editorial Director | Production Editor | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.3% Female, 51.7% | Male, 41.6% Female, 58.4% |
| 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, 3.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 7.2% White, 76.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |