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Production assistant/editor vs production editor

The differences between production assistant/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 production assistant/editor and a production editor. Additionally, a production editor has an average salary of $53,275, which is higher than the $50,759 average annual salary of a production assistant/editor.

The top three skills for a production assistant/editor include adobe photoshop, photography and audio board. The most important skills for a production editor are proofreading, editorial production, and production process.

Production assistant/editor vs production editor overview

Production Assistant/EditorProduction Editor
Yearly salary$50,759$53,275
Hourly rate$24.40$25.61
Growth rate-5%-5%
Number of jobs61,50962,877
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 82%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does a production assistant/editor do?

Production assistants/editors are individuals with skills in communication, adaptability, organization, and administration. They also possess a healthy dose of enthusiasm and perseverance and the ability to work well under pressure. This career choice calls for assisting directors of film and television in collecting and organizing elements needed to edit the film, and overseeing the various lists and instructions needed for putting the film into its final form.

What does a production editor do?

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.

Production assistant/editor vs production editor salary

Production assistant/editors and production editors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Production Assistant/EditorProduction Editor
Average salary$50,759$53,275
Salary rangeBetween $34,000 And $74,000Between $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

Differences between production assistant/editor and production editor education

There are a few differences between a production assistant/editor and a production editor in terms of educational background:

Production Assistant/EditorProduction Editor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 82%
Most common majorPhotographyEnglish
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Production assistant/editor vs production editor demographics

Here are the differences between production assistant/editors' and production editors' demographics:

Production Assistant/EditorProduction Editor
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 48.1% Female, 51.9%Male, 41.6% Female, 58.4%
Race ratioBlack 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%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 Percentage12%12%

Differences between production assistant/editor and production editor duties and responsibilities

Production assistant/editor example responsibilities.

  • Develop SEO strategies to increase profitability and manage social media to spread brand awareness and bolster readership.
  • Promote to improve design consistency of the daily metro sections.
  • Monitor internal systems for media requests, including tape and DVD duplication, encoding and file management.
  • Assist with filming and editing for a friend's YouTube channel covering inspirational minutes for community organization.
  • Develop proof-of-concept project for DVD proposal.
  • Utilize content management systems and SEO metadata to provide quality finish VOD products to both domestic and international customers.
  • Show more

Production editor example responsibilities.

  • Manage integration and implementation of site search and train staff on strategic SEO and web best practices.
  • Manage research and identification of all clips and pictures used in the documentary for the purpose of credit and compensation.
  • Typeset editorial content and manage paste-up board production.
  • Boost usability by managing content migration to iApps, leading maintenance & data/functionality QA.
  • Assume full editorial responsibility when editor are unavailable, including managing social media accounts and assigning content to freelancers and photographers.
  • Update online versions of books using UNIX, HTML, and XML technologies.
  • Show more

Production assistant/editor vs production editor skills

Common production assistant/editor skills
  • Adobe Photoshop, 9%
  • Photography, 7%
  • Audio Board, 7%
  • Video Production, 6%
  • Teleprompter, 5%
  • Adobe Premiere, 5%
Common production editor skills
  • Proofreading, 15%
  • Editorial Production, 9%
  • Production Process, 9%
  • Production Schedules, 5%
  • Fiction, 4%
  • Adobe Indesign, 4%

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