Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between reporters and writers 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 a writer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a writer has an average salary of $66,143, 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 a writer are work ethic, customer service, and web content.
| Reporter | Writer | |
| Yearly salary | $46,667 | $66,143 |
| Hourly rate | $22.44 | $31.80 |
| Growth rate | -10% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 11,179 | 13,931 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| 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.
A writer can have different responsibilities depending on which industry or line of work they are involved. There are writers assigned in a corporate setting, some in journalism, while there are also writers in the entertainment Industry. Although they focus on varying types of writing, they all function to inform. Among the typical duties of writers involve producing content within allotted time or deadline, gather information and verify to ensure accuracy, proofread, and undergo review and revisions.
Reporters and writers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Reporter | Writer | |
| Average salary | $46,667 | $66,143 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $73,000 | Between $40,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Citi | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Media | - |
There are a few differences between a reporter and a writer in terms of educational background:
| Reporter | Writer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Journalism | English |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between reporters' and writers' demographics:
| Reporter | Writer | |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.8% Female, 55.2% | Male, 46.2% Female, 53.8% |
| 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, 6.1% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 5.0% White, 75.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 16% |