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The differences between medical editors 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 a medical editor and a production editor. Additionally, a medical editor has an average salary of $59,482, which is higher than the $53,275 average annual salary of a production editor.
The top three skills for a medical editor include proofreading, style guides and FDA. The most important skills for a production editor are proofreading, editorial production, and production process.
| Medical Editor | Production Editor | |
| Yearly salary | $59,482 | $53,275 |
| Hourly rate | $28.60 | $25.61 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 55,508 | 62,877 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Medical editors are professionals who are responsible for assisting medical writers by editing their scientific writings to make them clear and precise for their audience. These editors are required to review and edit articles and medical education materials to ensure that they observe quality writing style and proper grammar. They must provide copyediting and substantive editing for many scholarly medical articles. Medical editors must also edit the safety documentation on all drugs and clinical trials so that they can provide information to patients about treatment options.
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.
Medical editors and production editors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Editor | Production Editor | |
| Average salary | $59,482 | $53,275 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $98,000 | Between $41,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Hartford, CT |
| Highest paying state | - | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | - | Robert A.M. Stern Architects |
| Best paying industry | - | Media |
There are a few differences between a medical editor and a production editor in terms of educational background:
| Medical Editor | Production Editor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Most common major | English | English |
| Most common college | New York University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between medical editors' and production editors' demographics:
| Medical Editor | Production Editor | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.8% Female, 78.2% | Male, 41.6% Female, 58.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 7.0% White, 76.9% 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% |