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The differences between research writers 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 research writer, 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 $50,741 average annual salary of a research writer.
The top three skills for a research writer include research topics, press releases and editorials. The most important skills for an assistant editor are editorial content, video footage, and web content.
| Research Writer | Assistant Editor | |
| Yearly salary | $50,741 | $52,284 |
| Hourly rate | $24.39 | $25.14 |
| Growth rate | 6% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 60,595 | 8,716 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 81% |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
Research writers are professionals who conduct extensive research by taking complex information and then explaining it in lay terminology. These writers are required to conduct extensive research on various topics based on the requests of their clients to write keyword articles for search engine optimization (SEO). They must work with a wide variety of clients who specialize in web content to complete strategic research and content creation projects. Research writers must also manage research projects for companies, local and overseas.
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.
Research writers and assistant editors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Writer | Assistant Editor | |
| Average salary | $50,741 | $52,284 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $80,000 | Between $34,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | Brookline, MA | Huntington, NY |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | New York |
| Best paying company | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Media |
There are a few differences between a research writer and an assistant editor in terms of educational background:
| Research Writer | Assistant Editor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 81% |
| Most common major | English | English |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between research writers' and assistant editors' demographics:
| Research Writer | Assistant Editor | |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 41.4% Female, 58.6% | Male, 45.9% Female, 54.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 8.6% White, 72.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | 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 | 11% | 12% |