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Science editor vs copy editor

The differences between science editors and copy 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 science editor and a copy editor. Additionally, a copy editor has an average salary of $62,599, which is higher than the $62,220 average annual salary of a science editor.

The top three skills for a science editor include SEO, chemistry and proofread. The most important skills for a copy editor are proofreading, house style, and digital publishing.

Science editor vs copy editor overview

Science EditorCopy Editor
Yearly salary$62,220$62,599
Hourly rate$29.91$30.10
Growth rate-5%-5%
Number of jobs9,1034,866
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 83%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

Science editor vs copy editor salary

Science editors and copy editors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Science EditorCopy Editor
Average salary$62,220$62,599
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $108,000Between $39,000 And $98,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew Jersey
Best paying companyThe Washington PostPayPal
Best paying industryGovernmentFinance

Differences between science editor and copy editor education

There are a few differences between a science editor and a copy editor in terms of educational background:

Science EditorCopy Editor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 83%
Most common majorBiologyEnglish
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Science editor vs copy editor demographics

Here are the differences between science editors' and copy editors' demographics:

Science EditorCopy Editor
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 40.3% Female, 59.7%Male, 39.2% Female, 60.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 7.1% White, 76.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 7.3% White, 76.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between science editor and copy editor duties and responsibilities

Science editor example responsibilities.

  • Manage editorial team to create secondary-education textbooks.
  • Participate in monthly meetings with editorial staff, editor-in-chief, and president to generate compelling story ideas.
  • Analyze FrameMaker source document and provide feedback to XML architects to improve accuracy of conversion.

Copy editor example responsibilities.

  • Manage copy editing and proofreading responsibilities of weekly business newspaper and special supplements.
  • Collaborate with managing editor and editor-in-chief to develop and post news coverage and multimedia projects.
  • Supervise editorial services and manage workload for multiple complex projects offering professional development training for educators via online and classroom delivery.
  • Compile NHL, NBA, NFL, golf and college roundups, and laid out the scoreboard page.
  • Call upon to produce special pages for NHL and NBA previews.
  • Serve as lead copy editor for NASCAR, college football, college basketball and NFL sections.
  • Show more

Science editor vs copy editor skills

Common science editor skills
  • SEO, 27%
  • Chemistry, 20%
  • Proofread, 16%
  • House Style, 8%
  • Writing Articles, 8%
  • Mathematics, 7%
Common copy editor skills
  • Proofreading, 12%
  • House Style, 8%
  • Digital Publishing, 6%
  • Fact Check, 6%
  • SEO, 5%
  • Web Content, 5%

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