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Publishing editor vs assistant editor

The differences between publishing editors and assistant 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 publishing editor and an assistant editor. Additionally, a publishing editor has an average salary of $61,550, which is higher than the $52,284 average annual salary of an assistant editor.

The top three skills for a publishing editor include web site, feature stories and edit content. The most important skills for an assistant editor are editorial content, video footage, and web content.

Publishing editor vs assistant editor overview

Publishing EditorAssistant Editor
Yearly salary$61,550$52,284
Hourly rate$29.59$25.14
Growth rate-5%-5%
Number of jobs4,5628,716
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does a publishing editor do?

Publishing Editors tend to earn around $56K per year in a career that demands creativity, language, and writing skills, as well as being detail-oriented and possessing good judgment and interpersonal skills. Though not required, most will have at least a bachelor's degree in English, communications, or journalism for this career, which calls for deciding the style and content of various publications or even the entire publication content in managerial roles.

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 editor vs assistant editor salary

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

Publishing EditorAssistant Editor
Average salary$61,550$52,284
Salary rangeBetween $44,000 And $85,000Between $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 editor and assistant editor education

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

Publishing EditorAssistant Editor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Most common majorJournalismEnglish
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Publishing editor vs assistant editor demographics

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

Publishing EditorAssistant Editor
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 52.6% Female, 47.4%Male, 45.9% Female, 54.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 6.9% White, 77.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%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 Percentage12%12%

Differences between publishing editor and assistant editor duties and responsibilities

Publishing editor example responsibilities.

  • Supervise all editorial activities, including developing editorial story boards, managing freelance copywriters and directing contract photo assignments.
  • Use HTML encoding when formatting content.
  • Drive readership through the use of professional and social media and SEO.
  • Oversee corporation s digital marketing strategy: SEM, SEO, PPC.
  • Implement emerging social media platforms (Facebook, MySpace) as a marketing tool.
  • Hire and direct staff of Facebook, Pinterest, writers, account executives, photographers.
  • 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 editor vs assistant editor skills

Common publishing editor skills
  • Web Site, 11%
  • Feature Stories, 10%
  • Edit Content, 7%
  • Graphic Design, 5%
  • Content Development, 5%
  • Digital Photography, 4%
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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