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Publishing assistant vs assistant editor

The differences between publishing assistants and assistant 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 publishing assistant, becoming an assistant editor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an assistant editor has an average salary of $52,284, which is higher than the $43,605 average annual salary of a publishing assistant.

The top three skills for a publishing assistant include proofreading, fiction and administrative tasks. The most important skills for an assistant editor are editorial content, video footage, and web content.

Publishing assistant vs assistant editor overview

Publishing AssistantAssistant Editor
Yearly salary$43,605$52,284
Hourly rate$20.96$25.14
Growth rate-8%-5%
Number of jobs26,3688,716
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Average age5044
Years of experience24

What does a publishing assistant do?

Publishing Assistants will require verbal and written communication skills, as well as adaptability, attention to detail, the ability to work under pressure in order to meet deadlines, and proficiency with programs like Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite, Earning an average of $36K per year, this career choice will call only for a diploma or GED, but many will have bachelor's degrees at the very least. They will, in general, be responsible for the preparation of administrative reports and training documents, receipt of incoming calls, and make outgoing calls to various clients, as well as data entry and file management.

What does an assistant editor do?

An assistant editor is an individual responsible for assisting an editor-in-chief or editor-at-large of a newspaper, magazine, radio program, or website. Assistant editors hold meetings with staff and freelance writers to discuss new, fresh and original content for projects on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. They review assignments handed in by writers or reporters for sense, accuracy, readability, and content. Assistant editors must also utilize new media applications such as Twitter and Facebook to draw attention to an article or cause.

Publishing assistant vs assistant editor salary

Publishing assistants and assistant editors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Publishing AssistantAssistant Editor
Average salary$43,605$52,284
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $50,000Between $34,000 And $78,000
Highest paying City-Huntington, NY
Highest paying state-New York
Best paying company-Apple
Best paying industry-Media

Differences between publishing assistant and assistant editor education

There are a few differences between a publishing assistant and an assistant editor in terms of educational background:

Publishing AssistantAssistant Editor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Most common majorEnglishEnglish
Most common collegeStanford UniversityNorthwestern University

Publishing assistant vs assistant editor demographics

Here are the differences between publishing assistants' and assistant editors' demographics:

Publishing AssistantAssistant Editor
Average age5044
Gender ratioMale, 23.9% Female, 76.1%Male, 45.9% Female, 54.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%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 Percentage6%12%

Differences between publishing assistant and assistant editor duties and responsibilities

Publishing assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage the typesetting, proofreading, and copy editing of several books with minimal supervision.
  • Manage ISRC codes and YouTube work codes from YouTube's``CMS"database into internal catalogues.
  • Process daily accounting including reconciliation of payable accounts, tracking and managing inventory through QuickBooks.
  • Spearhead initiative in converting documents to HTML and PDF for use in online marketing and internet commerce.
  • Prepare and ensure electronic submissions are in eCTD formats and within FDA guidelines when submit in a timely matter.
  • Edit and HTML conversion of online editions.
  • Show more

Assistant editor example responsibilities.

  • Lead bureau newsgathering in high-pressure, breaking news situations.
  • Manage the budget for all of VOA s primary newsgathering.
  • Produce e-newsletters, manage website content, write headlines and captions, utilize SEO and analyze digital traffic.
  • Communicate with transportation managers, administrators, equipment operators and others for fulfillment of copy to achieve editorial goals.
  • Ensure compliance with PRC and FDA guidelines.
  • Increase social media presence and traffic through Facebook and Instagram.
  • Show more

Publishing assistant vs assistant editor skills

Common publishing assistant skills
  • Proofreading, 13%
  • Fiction, 9%
  • Administrative Tasks, 8%
  • Market Research, 8%
  • Expense Reports, 8%
  • Client Database, 5%
Common assistant editor skills
  • Editorial Content, 9%
  • Video Footage, 8%
  • Web Content, 5%
  • Media Management, 4%
  • Production Process, 4%
  • Twitter, 3%

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