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Photograph retoucher vs photo editor

The differences between photograph retouchers and photo editors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a photograph retoucher, becoming a photo editor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a photograph retoucher has an average salary of $77,972, which is higher than the $63,168 average annual salary of a photo editor.

The top three skills for a photograph retoucher include product photography, adobe photoshop and portrait photography. The most important skills for a photo editor are adobe photoshop, stock photography, and photo shoots.

Photograph retoucher vs photo editor overview

Photograph RetoucherPhoto Editor
Yearly salary$77,972$63,168
Hourly rate$37.49$30.37
Growth rate9%-5%
Number of jobs1,17510,068
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age3944
Years of experience24

Photograph retoucher vs photo editor salary

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

Photograph RetoucherPhoto Editor
Average salary$77,972$63,168
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $230,000Between $38,000 And $104,000
Highest paying City-New York, NY
Highest paying state-New York
Best paying company-Apple
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between photograph retoucher and photo editor education

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

Photograph RetoucherPhoto Editor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common majorPhotographyPhotography
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityNorthwestern University

Photograph retoucher vs photo editor demographics

Here are the differences between photograph retouchers' and photo editors' demographics:

Photograph RetoucherPhoto Editor
Average age3944
Gender ratioMale, 54.7% Female, 45.3%Male, 44.6% Female, 55.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 7.1% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%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 Percentage11%12%

Differences between photograph retoucher and photo editor duties and responsibilities

Photograph retoucher example responsibilities.

  • Work with Sony sales reps to achieve goals and account management.
  • Work on projects and build a customer base to increase traffic to the company's new website and Facebook page.
  • Create PowerPoint presentations and publication quality images using digital input devices, photo-editing and graphic arts software.
  • Earn commendations for excellence in journalism writing and photojournalism throughout career.

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

Photograph retoucher vs photo editor skills

Common photograph retoucher skills
  • Product Photography, 33%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 21%
  • Portrait Photography, 6%
  • Adobe Lightroom, 5%
  • Art Direction, 5%
  • Color Correction, 4%
Common photo editor skills
  • Adobe Photoshop, 23%
  • Stock Photography, 7%
  • Photo Shoots, 6%
  • Instagram, 6%
  • FTP, 5%
  • Facebook, 4%

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