Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between reporters 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 reporter, 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 $46,667 average annual salary of a reporter.
The top three skills for a reporter include news stories, digital marketing and facebook. The most important skills for an assistant editor are editorial content, video footage, and web content.
| Reporter | Assistant Editor | |
| Yearly salary | $46,667 | $52,284 |
| Hourly rate | $22.44 | $25.14 |
| Growth rate | -10% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 11,179 | 8,716 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 81% |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
In journalism, a reporter is responsible for relaying truthful and reliable information to the public audience through various mediums such as print and media. A reporter must ensure to gather necessary and factual data that are supported by interviews and comments of those involved, remain unbiased in all aspects, produce a concise and comprehensive informational material within an allotted time, and efficiently coordinate with every staff. Furthermore, a reporter must remain professional at all times and adhere to the policies and regulations set by the company or network.
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.
Reporters and assistant editors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Reporter | Assistant Editor | |
| Average salary | $46,667 | $52,284 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $73,000 | Between $34,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Huntington, NY |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New York |
| Best paying company | Citi | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Media | Media |
There are a few differences between a reporter and an assistant editor in terms of educational background:
| Reporter | Assistant Editor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 81% |
| Most common major | Journalism | English |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between reporters' and assistant editors' demographics:
| Reporter | Assistant Editor | |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.8% Female, 55.2% | Male, 45.9% Female, 54.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 9.7% White, 66.5% 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 Percentage | 10% | 12% |