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Scientific writer vs editor

The differences between scientific writers and 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 scientific writer, becoming an editor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a scientific writer has an average salary of $99,550, which is higher than the $52,107 average annual salary of an editor.

The top three skills for a scientific writer include IND, NDA and abstracts. The most important skills for an editor are web content, video content, and SEO.

Scientific writer vs editor overview

Scientific WriterEditor
Yearly salary$99,550$52,107
Hourly rate$47.86$25.05
Growth rate6%-5%
Number of jobs15,96015,115
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Average age4644
Years of experience24

What does a scientific writer do?

Scientific writers are professionals who are responsible for conducting research and writing articles that are related to scientific topics for many different kinds of publications and scientific journals. These writers are required to conduct interviews with scientists and other important people to ensure accurate information about the essays they are writing. They must adapt and comply with in-house style guides as well as perform copy-editing and proofreading duties. Scientific writers must also build up a network of contacts with other professionals in the industry such as press officers, PR executives, and researchers.

What does an editor do?

An editor is the one responsible for polishing and refining a story, article, and any material for publication in newspapers, magazines, books, or websites. Editors have the power to either accept or reject a material as they need to ensure that every manuscript which will be offered for publishing is at the best version as it can be. There are several types of editors, from copy editors, books to managing editors, but they have few skills in common, like strong writing skills, good judgment, and leadership abilities to help guide the whole editorial team. Most of them work in the office, but it is quite becoming more regular for them to work remotely.

Scientific writer vs editor salary

Scientific writers and editors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Scientific WriterEditor
Average salary$99,550$52,107
Salary rangeBetween $66,000 And $150,000Between $34,000 And $78,000
Highest paying CityRichmond, VAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateVirginiaNew York
Best paying companyMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterMicrosoft
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalTechnology

Differences between scientific writer and editor education

There are a few differences between a scientific writer and an editor in terms of educational background:

Scientific WriterEditor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Most common majorBiologyEnglish
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborNorthwestern University

Scientific writer vs editor demographics

Here are the differences between scientific writers' and editors' demographics:

Scientific WriterEditor
Average age4644
Gender ratioMale, 39.2% Female, 60.8%Male, 46.4% Female, 53.6%
Race ratioBlack 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, 3.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 7.3% White, 76.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage11%12%

Differences between scientific writer and editor duties and responsibilities

Scientific writer example responsibilities.

  • Manage, and assist in the recruiting activities of, CRO resources preparing regulatory documents on behalf of APGD.
  • Harmonize USP and EP methods.
  • Exhibit proficiency in researching, writing, editing, and proofreading.
  • Create internal LIMS for NIH lab using Drupal, MySQL and git version control.
  • Organize and consolidate information into standard report formats, preparing and proofreading correspondence and documents in accordance with HIPAA regulations.
  • Use APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, AMA, and in-house style guides for error-free documents.
  • Show more

Editor example responsibilities.

  • Manage content QC and Disney client QC of create content.
  • Manage campaign performance through data analysis and reporting, with actionable takeaways per designate KPI.
  • Manage and create newsletter archives for NASA: http: //www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/home/index.html
  • Manage business documentation for the department's strategic alignment SharePoint database.
  • Develop SEO strategies to increase profitability and manage social media to spread brand awareness and bolster readership.
  • Manage international man-made fiber market research/publishing company and supervise editorial content and sales of industry statistical journal.
  • Show more

Scientific writer vs editor skills

Common scientific writer skills
  • IND, 10%
  • NDA, 10%
  • Abstracts, 7%
  • Regulatory Submissions, 6%
  • Proofreading, 6%
  • Clinical Study Reports, 6%
Common editor skills
  • Web Content, 13%
  • Video Content, 9%
  • SEO, 6%
  • Facebook, 4%
  • Editor-In-Chief, 4%
  • Twitter, 3%

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