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The differences between investigative reporters and production 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 investigative reporter, becoming a production editor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an investigative reporter has an average salary of $65,230, which is higher than the $53,275 average annual salary of a production editor.
The top three skills for an investigative reporter include investigative journalism, investigative stories and facebook. The most important skills for a production editor are proofreading, editorial production, and production process.
| Investigative Reporter | Production Editor | |
| Yearly salary | $65,230 | $53,275 |
| Hourly rate | $31.36 | $25.61 |
| Growth rate | -10% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 10,813 | 62,877 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
An investigative reporter is a journalist who performs extensive research and analysis to build facts and current events into news stories. To make this possible, they must pursue leads relating to their subject, conduct interviews with witnesses or the people involved, travel to different places to gather pieces of evidence and other source materials, take videos or photographs, and coordinate with experts such as lawyers and doctors when necessary. Moreover, an investigative reporter must keep up with the latest trends in establishing news structures and news writing.
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.
Investigative reporters and production editors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Investigative Reporter | Production Editor | |
| Average salary | $65,230 | $53,275 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $104,000 | Between $41,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Hartford, CT |
| Highest paying state | New York | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | HSBC Bank | Robert A.M. Stern Architects |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Media |
There are a few differences between an investigative reporter and a production editor in terms of educational background:
| Investigative Reporter | Production Editor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Most common major | Journalism | English |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between investigative reporters' and production editors' demographics:
| Investigative Reporter | Production Editor | |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.0% Female, 51.0% | Male, 41.6% Female, 58.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 8.6% White, 67.7% 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 | 10% | 12% |