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The differences between publishers and staff writers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a publisher, becoming a staff writer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a publisher has an average salary of $71,539, which is higher than the $44,844 average annual salary of a staff writer.
The top three skills for a publisher include press releases, customer satisfaction and strategic thinking. The most important skills for a staff writer are feature stories, news stories, and event coverage.
| Publisher | Staff Writer | |
| Yearly salary | $71,539 | $44,844 |
| Hourly rate | $34.39 | $21.56 |
| Growth rate | -5% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 10,303 | 80,547 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
A publisher manages the design, editing, and production process with the help of proofreaders, printers, and editors. Publishers make schedules for every stage of the process and work backward from the planned date for publication. They distribute promotional catalogs to libraries and booksellers. They set the commercial and editorial direction for businesses publishing newspapers, digital content, magazines, and books. It is their duty to make decisions on the markets that their firms will serve as well as the type of content that they will give to their audience.
A staff writer is an individual who works in the television (TV) or entertainment industry to provide standard content such as news reports, reviews, and features. Since writing content is important, staff writers must be able to collaborate and brainstorm ideas with other staff members in the production process. They must attend conferences, events, or seminars to meet other people in the industry. Staff writers must also possess knowledge in scriptwriting and an in-depth understanding of the entertainment industry.
Publishers and staff writers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Publisher | Staff Writer | |
| Average salary | $71,539 | $44,844 |
| Salary range | Between $42,000 And $120,000 | Between $29,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Stamford, CT | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | The New York Times Company |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a publisher and a staff writer in terms of educational background:
| Publisher | Staff Writer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Most common major | Business | Journalism |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between publishers' and staff writers' demographics:
| Publisher | Staff Writer | |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.7% Female, 44.3% | Male, 49.2% Female, 50.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 7.1% White, 76.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 8.8% White, 71.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 11% |