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The differences between engineering technical writers and managing editors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an engineering technical writer, becoming a managing editor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a managing editor has an average salary of $89,060, which is higher than the $64,966 average annual salary of an engineering technical writer.
The top three skills for an engineering technical writer include API, technical documentation and java. The most important skills for a managing editor are web content, editorial content, and SEO.
| Engineering Technical Writer | Managing Editor | |
| Yearly salary | $64,966 | $89,060 |
| Hourly rate | $31.23 | $42.82 |
| Growth rate | 6% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 128,393 | 16,781 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 81% |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
An engineering technical writer specializes in producing engineering reports and documentation. They primarily communicate and coordinate with engineering teams to gather and analyze different forms of data, using the findings as a basis for writing materials. They may also liaise with clients, identifying the documents that they need, and submitting them to them while adhering to the company's policies and regulations. Furthermore, there are instances when an engineering technical writer must develop presentations and graphs, presenting reports to clients or company officials.
Managing editors are individuals who coordinate and oversee the editorial activities of a publication. They administer the daily operations or a website or publication, such as generating ideas and planning and editing content. Their responsibilities include the recruitment, promotion, and firing of staff members. They even create and implement deadlines. Great managing editors are those who are updated on the latest trends and make informed decisions. They should also be equipped with skills in management and coaching.
Engineering technical writers and managing editors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Engineering Technical Writer | Managing Editor | |
| Average salary | $64,966 | $89,060 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $89,000 | Between $59,000 And $132,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Meta | Federal Reserve Bank |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Media |
There are a few differences between an engineering technical writer and a managing editor in terms of educational background:
| Engineering Technical Writer | Managing Editor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 81% |
| Most common major | Business | Journalism |
| Most common college | University of Houston | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between engineering technical writers' and managing editors' demographics:
| Engineering Technical Writer | Managing Editor | |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 64.0% Female, 36.0% | Male, 46.6% Female, 53.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 8.6% White, 71.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 12% |