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Senior editor vs deputy editor

The differences between senior editors and deputy 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 senior editor and a deputy editor. Additionally, a deputy editor has an average salary of $96,894, which is higher than the $90,094 average annual salary of a senior editor.

The top three skills for a senior editor include edit content, video content and SEO. The most important skills for a deputy editor are SEO, editorial calendar, and editor-in-chief.

Senior editor vs deputy editor overview

Senior EditorDeputy Editor
Yearly salary$90,094$96,894
Hourly rate$43.31$46.58
Growth rate-5%-5%
Number of jobs12,15013,475
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 79%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does a senior editor do?

A Senior Editor determines the editorial content for a publication. They supervise the content creation process and manage junior editors.

What does a deputy editor do?

A deputy editor provides support to the senior editor in overseeing a publishing company's daily operations. They primarily edit and review written materials for print and online publication, supervise the writers, manage budgets and timelines, present regular reports to the senior editor, and conduct evaluations to ensure procedures adhere to standards. They also work together with fellow editors to plan story concepts and strategies, manage editorial calendars, and delegate responsibilities among writers. Moreover, there are also times when a deputy editor writes and develops articles.

Senior editor vs deputy editor salary

Senior editors and deputy editors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior EditorDeputy Editor
Average salary$90,094$96,894
Salary rangeBetween $66,000 And $121,000Between $50,000 And $186,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CANew York, NY
Highest paying stateConnecticutConnecticut
Best paying companyAppleThe Daily Dot
Best paying industryFinanceMedia

Differences between senior editor and deputy editor education

There are a few differences between a senior editor and a deputy editor in terms of educational background:

Senior EditorDeputy Editor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 79%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Most common majorEnglishJournalism
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Senior editor vs deputy editor demographics

Here are the differences between senior editors' and deputy editors' demographics:

Senior EditorDeputy Editor
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 51.7% Female, 48.3%Male, 54.3% Female, 45.7%
Race ratioBlack 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%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 senior editor and deputy editor duties and responsibilities

Senior editor example responsibilities.

  • Contract and manage editorial freelancers and full-service vendors for successful high school Spanish and Latin textbook and ancillary programs.
  • Post video to the Fox17 website and youtube.
  • Complete several robust DVD authoring projects for clients.
  • Redesign the look and the style of lifestyle magazine.
  • Double traffic on the Instagram page with newly implement marketing plan.
  • Content editing for automobile DVD user manuals (English, French and Spanish).
  • Show more

Deputy editor example responsibilities.

  • Manage SEO efforts through oversight of headline creation/editing and copy editing.
  • Lead round-the-clock daily editorial operations for outlet with industry-leading track record for accuracy and speed.
  • Oversee layout, content, copy editing, production, photography, editorial calendar, budget and advertising in the magazines.
  • Upload daily stories to Wordpress.
  • Authore HTML and CSS, and administer user experience (UX) initiatives.
  • Oversee SEO best practices and training of editorial team in those practices across all properties.
  • Show more

Senior editor vs deputy editor skills

Common senior editor skills
  • Edit Content, 11%
  • Video Content, 7%
  • SEO, 7%
  • Digital Content, 6%
  • Project Management, 4%
  • Facebook, 3%
Common deputy editor skills
  • SEO, 12%
  • Editorial Calendar, 9%
  • Editor-In-Chief, 9%
  • Facebook, 6%
  • News Stories, 6%
  • WordPress, 6%

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