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The differences between sports photographers and photo 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 sports photographer, becoming a photo editor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a photo editor has an average salary of $63,168, which is higher than the $27,958 average annual salary of a sports photographer.
The top three skills for a sports photographer include adobe photoshop, camera equipment and kids. The most important skills for a photo editor are adobe photoshop, stock photography, and photo shoots.
| Sports Photographer | Photo Editor | |
| Yearly salary | $27,958 | $63,168 |
| Hourly rate | $13.44 | $30.37 |
| Growth rate | 9% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 6,917 | 10,068 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
Sports photographers are hired to take pictures of different sports events and athletes. They mainly work in print medias such as magazine or newspapers. Their photos must express the skill and emotion of the athletes. Sports photographers carry sophisticated cameras and shoot photos from different angles. Their photos could be mesmerizing to sports enthusiasts.
Photo Editors are employees in the creatives or marketing department of the company. They handle photos used by the company for its marketing collaterals, social media posts, or publishing. They also ensure that the photos are in line with the company's brand and image. Photo Editors may add items or elements to make the photo more eye-catching.
Sports photographers and photo editors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Sports Photographer | Photo Editor | |
| Average salary | $27,958 | $63,168 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $34,000 | Between $38,000 And $104,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | - | New York |
| Best paying company | - | Apple |
| Best paying industry | - | Professional |
There are a few differences between a sports photographer and a photo editor in terms of educational background:
| Sports Photographer | Photo Editor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Photography | Photography |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between sports photographers' and photo editors' demographics:
| Sports Photographer | Photo Editor | |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.7% Female, 37.3% | Male, 44.6% Female, 55.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 7.1% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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% |