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Features editor vs photo editor

The differences between features editors and photo editors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a features editor and a photo editor. Additionally, a photo editor has an average salary of $63,168, which is higher than the $59,420 average annual salary of a features editor.

The top three skills for a features editor include editorial content, layout design and SEO. The most important skills for a photo editor are adobe photoshop, stock photography, and photo shoots.

Features editor vs photo editor overview

Features EditorPhoto Editor
Yearly salary$59,420$63,168
Hourly rate$28.57$30.37
Growth rate-5%-5%
Number of jobs11,74810,068
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 83%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does a features editor do?

A features editor's duty is to oversee and delegate the articles in the feature section of newspapers, magazines, and other digital publications to writers. Their job also includes pitching suitable articles from freelancers and making sure that the articles made for their publication are informative, on topic, and well-written. Also, the features editor must be detail-oriented and meticulous to ensure that every article is error-free and creative since they are the ones who supervise and decide whether the stories are ethical and factual enough before publishing.

What does a photo editor do?

Photo Editors are employees in the creatives or marketing department of the company. They handle photos used by the company for its marketing collaterals, social media posts, or publishing. They also ensure that the photos are in line with the company's brand and image. Photo Editors may add items or elements to make the photo more eye-catching.

Features editor vs photo editor salary

Features editors and photo editors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Features EditorPhoto Editor
Average salary$59,420$63,168
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $96,000Between $38,000 And $104,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYNew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew York
Best paying companyRokuApple
Best paying industryNon ProfitsProfessional

Differences between features editor and photo editor education

There are a few differences between a features editor and a photo editor in terms of educational background:

Features EditorPhoto Editor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 83%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common majorJournalismPhotography
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Features editor vs photo editor demographics

Here are the differences between features editors' and photo editors' demographics:

Features EditorPhoto Editor
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 37.1% Female, 62.9%Male, 44.6% Female, 55.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 7.0% White, 76.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 7.0% White, 76.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between features editor and photo editor duties and responsibilities

Features editor example responsibilities.

  • Manage SEO and Adwords, and social media content.
  • Film and edit all video content as well as managing the YouTube channel and social media feeds.
  • Manage weekly flash fiction competition.
  • Manage communication between editorial, photo, video and production departments.
  • Market via facebook, twitter and blog.
  • Report to editor-in-chief and oversee feature reporting staff.
  • Show more

Photo editor example responsibilities.

  • Manage SEO tags for photo base articles.
  • Lead teams of multimedia writers to creating short documentaries.
  • Manage metadata and implement SEO practices that increase page views!
  • Manage international man-made fiber market research/publishing company and supervise editorial content and sales of industry statistical journal.
  • Experience with HTML and CSS coding to build a web-base interface to display training modules.
  • Maintain the image database, caption placements, color correction, image archive and ftp images to clients and agencies.
  • Show more

Features editor vs photo editor skills

Common features editor skills
  • Editorial Content, 12%
  • Layout Design, 9%
  • SEO, 8%
  • Adobe Indesign, 7%
  • Lifestyle, 7%
  • Feature Stories, 6%
Common photo editor skills
  • Adobe Photoshop, 23%
  • Stock Photography, 7%
  • Photo Shoots, 6%
  • Instagram, 6%
  • FTP, 5%
  • Facebook, 4%

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