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The differences between medical editors and technical 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 technical editor. Additionally, a technical editor has an average salary of $61,717, which is higher than the $59,482 average annual salary of a medical editor.
The top three skills for a medical editor include proofreading, style guides and FDA. The most important skills for a technical editor are powerpoint, english language, and proofreading.
| Medical Editor | Technical Editor | |
| Yearly salary | $59,482 | $61,717 |
| Hourly rate | $28.60 | $29.67 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 55,508 | 78,423 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| 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 technical editor is someone who proofreads, revises, and edits technical documents. He/She or she checks for grammar, punctuation, and style to ensure that the technical content meets company standards. Some of the qualifications to become a technical editor include knowledge of technical concepts, prior experience in print or online publishing, a keen eye for details, and strong verbal and written communication skills. Someone having a bachelor's degree in English or journalism could qualify for the position.
Medical editors and technical editors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Editor | Technical Editor | |
| Average salary | $59,482 | $61,717 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $98,000 | Between $47,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | - | Apple |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a medical editor and a technical editor in terms of educational background:
| Medical Editor | Technical Editor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | English | English |
| Most common college | New York University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between medical editors' and technical editors' demographics:
| Medical Editor | Technical Editor | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.8% Female, 78.2% | Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4% |
| 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, 8.2% Asian, 7.3% White, 76.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |