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The differences between technical illustrators and technical editors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a technical illustrator, becoming a technical editor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a technical editor has an average salary of $61,717, which is higher than the $52,828 average annual salary of a technical illustrator.
The top three skills for a technical illustrator include adobe illustrator, engineering drawings and technical illustrations. The most important skills for a technical editor are powerpoint, english language, and proofreading.
| Technical Illustrator | Technical Editor | |
| Yearly salary | $52,828 | $61,717 |
| Hourly rate | $25.40 | $29.67 |
| Growth rate | 6% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 69,932 | 78,423 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
Technical illustrators create drawings or illustrations for various technical documentation through digital technology. Aside from being familiar with IT and design software, they have strong creativity and imaginative skills to provide illustrations that express an idea or concept. Also, they are excellent in drawing, painting, sketching, and photography. To become an effective technical illustrator, one must obtain a bachelor's degree related to graphic design and illustration since the job involves creating a diagram that depicts how a certain machine works visually.
A technical editor is someone who proofreads, revises, and edits technical documents. He/She or she checks for grammar, punctuation, and style to ensure that the technical content meets company standards. Some of the qualifications to become a technical editor include knowledge of technical concepts, prior experience in print or online publishing, a keen eye for details, and strong verbal and written communication skills. Someone having a bachelor's degree in English or journalism could qualify for the position.
Technical illustrators and technical editors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Illustrator | Technical Editor | |
| Average salary | $52,828 | $61,717 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $91,000 | Between $47,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | - | Apple |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a technical illustrator and a technical editor in terms of educational background:
| Technical Illustrator | Technical Editor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | English |
| Most common college | Duke University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between technical illustrators' and technical editors' demographics:
| Technical Illustrator | Technical Editor | |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 68.7% Female, 31.3% | Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 7.6% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 7.3% White, 76.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 12% |