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Newspaper editor vs copy editor

The differences between newspaper editors and copy 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 newspaper editor and a copy editor. Additionally, a copy editor has an average salary of $62,599, which is higher than the $37,894 average annual salary of a newspaper editor.

The top three skills for a newspaper editor include adobe indesign, news articles and adobe photoshop. The most important skills for a copy editor are proofreading, house style, and digital publishing.

Newspaper editor vs copy editor overview

Newspaper EditorCopy Editor
Yearly salary$37,894$62,599
Hourly rate$18.22$30.10
Growth rate-5%-5%
Number of jobs4,5214,866
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 83%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

Newspaper editor vs copy editor salary

Newspaper editors and copy editors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Newspaper EditorCopy Editor
Average salary$37,894$62,599
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $60,000Between $39,000 And $98,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-New Jersey
Best paying company-PayPal
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between newspaper editor and copy editor education

There are a few differences between a newspaper editor and a copy editor in terms of educational background:

Newspaper EditorCopy Editor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 83%
Most common majorJournalismEnglish
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Newspaper editor vs copy editor demographics

Here are the differences between newspaper editors' and copy editors' demographics:

Newspaper EditorCopy Editor
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 43.6% Female, 56.4%Male, 39.2% Female, 60.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 7.1% White, 76.7% 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, 76.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between newspaper editor and copy editor duties and responsibilities

Newspaper editor example responsibilities.

  • Develop SEO strategies to increase profitability and manage social media to spread brand awareness and bolster readership.
  • Edit and proofread staff written drafts.
  • Serve as CCI pagination system trainer, superuser and freelance writer.
  • Review submitted manuscripts, brainstorm & implement promotional strategies, track community involvement, and plan literary events with the editor-in-chief.
  • Supervise strategic plan preparation for advertising and editorial departments.
  • Cover range of news beats and best in entertainment journalism and lifestyles.
  • Show more

Copy editor example responsibilities.

  • Manage copy editing and proofreading responsibilities of weekly business newspaper and special supplements.
  • Collaborate with managing editor and editor-in-chief to develop and post news coverage and multimedia projects.
  • Supervise editorial services and manage workload for multiple complex projects offering professional development training for educators via online and classroom delivery.
  • Compile NHL, NBA, NFL, golf and college roundups, and laid out the scoreboard page.
  • Call upon to produce special pages for NHL and NBA previews.
  • Serve as lead copy editor for NASCAR, college football, college basketball and NFL sections.
  • Show more

Newspaper editor vs copy editor skills

Common newspaper editor skills
  • Adobe Indesign, 15%
  • News Articles, 9%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 7%
  • News Stories, 7%
  • Editorials, 6%
  • Writing Articles, 6%
Common copy editor skills
  • Proofreading, 12%
  • House Style, 8%
  • Digital Publishing, 6%
  • Fact Check, 6%
  • SEO, 5%
  • Web Content, 5%

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