Post job

Executive editor vs content editor

The differences between executive editors and content 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 executive editor and a content editor. Additionally, an executive editor has an average salary of $110,541, which is higher than the $61,694 average annual salary of a content editor.

The top three skills for an executive editor include editorial content, editorial calendar and digital content. The most important skills for a content editor are digital content, web content, and digital marketing.

Executive editor vs content editor overview

Executive EditorContent Editor
Yearly salary$110,541$61,694
Hourly rate$53.14$29.66
Growth rate-5%-5%
Number of jobs75,81018,586
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 81%Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does an executive editor do?

An executive editor supervises the editorial content of magazines, newspapers, or other publications. In the corporate setting, an executive editor often arranges a book's publishing. In a newspaper setting, an executive editor is the newsroom leader, and in larger newspapers, they coordinate all aspects of the publication's production. They must have the ability to manage subordinates and assistant editors and be experienced with Associated Press style.

What does a content editor do?

A content editor is an individual who is responsible for proof-reading articles written by content writers and write blog posts to promote the products and services of an organization. Content editors are responsible for producing monthly newsletters and optimize written pieces to increase user engagement. They need to interact with the consumers with the purpose of sourcing feedback on the content's impact actively. Content editors must also conduct business research on current trends to give the company an edge over the competition.

Executive editor vs content editor salary

Executive editors and content editors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Executive EditorContent Editor
Average salary$110,541$61,694
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $278,000Between $41,000 And $91,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYNew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew York
Best paying companyAmerican MediaApple
Best paying industryMediaTechnology

Differences between executive editor and content editor education

There are a few differences between an executive editor and a content editor in terms of educational background:

Executive EditorContent Editor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 81%Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Most common majorJournalismEnglish
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Executive editor vs content editor demographics

Here are the differences between executive editors' and content editors' demographics:

Executive EditorContent Editor
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 50.1% Female, 49.9%Male, 43.5% Female, 56.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 7.3% White, 76.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 7.1% White, 76.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between executive editor and content editor duties and responsibilities

Executive editor example responsibilities.

  • Lead effort to publish works of fiction (Alfaguara imprint).
  • Manage content using CMS tools and ongoing social media campaign and reader engagement via social media networks and blog.
  • Acquire established writers and introduce new voices in genre fiction.
  • Leverage meticulous attention to detail in technical editing and proofreading all content from project inception to completion.
  • Analyze FrameMaker source document and provide feedback to XML architects to improve accuracy of conversion.

Content editor example responsibilities.

  • Work with W3C standardize CSS to achieve design goals.
  • Coordinate and manage a team of photographers who work on NBA games throughout the league.
  • Identify, create and manage QA projects to improve data consistency and accuracy using SQL to extract data.
  • Manage editorial department by editing and publishing daily content for website and daily e-newsletter.
  • Develop SEO strategies to increase profitability and manage social media to spread brand awareness and bolster readership.
  • Develop social media content for different outlets such as Facebook, Instagram, Youtube channel and the blog's webpage.
  • Show more

Executive editor vs content editor skills

Common executive editor skills
  • Editorial Content, 12%
  • Editorial Calendar, 8%
  • Digital Content, 6%
  • SEO, 6%
  • Editor-In-Chief, 6%
  • Content Strategy, 6%
Common content editor skills
  • Digital Content, 8%
  • Web Content, 7%
  • Digital Marketing, 4%
  • WordPress, 4%
  • Video Content, 4%
  • Content Marketing, 4%

Browse arts, entertainment, sports, and media jobs