Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between science writers and senior 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 science writer, becoming a senior editor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a senior editor has an average salary of $90,094, which is higher than the $69,214 average annual salary of a science writer.
The top three skills for a science writer include biomedical, NIH and scientific content. The most important skills for a senior editor are edit content, video content, and SEO.
| Science Writer | Senior Editor | |
| Yearly salary | $69,214 | $90,094 |
| Hourly rate | $33.28 | $43.31 |
| Growth rate | 6% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 20,214 | 12,150 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
A science writer specializes in producing written materials that aim to inform and educate. There are many employment opportunities for a science writer, such as in publishing, education, film and TV, and government agencies. Although their duties vary on their place of employment, it typically includes conducting studies and scientific research, observing subjects and gathering samples, coordinating with experts, and collecting evidence. They must also produce content while adhering to deadlines and guidelines, including the employer's policies and regulations.
A Senior Editor determines the editorial content for a publication. They supervise the content creation process and manage junior editors.
Science writers and senior editors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Science Writer | Senior Editor | |
| Average salary | $69,214 | $90,094 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $110,000 | Between $66,000 And $121,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Fred Hutch | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a science writer and a senior editor in terms of educational background:
| Science Writer | Senior Editor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Biology | English |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between science writers' and senior editors' demographics:
| Science Writer | Senior Editor | |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.4% Female, 62.6% | Male, 51.7% Female, 48.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 8.8% White, 71.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 7.2% White, 76.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 12% |