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The differences between technical writers and managing 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 technical writer, becoming a managing editor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a managing editor has an average salary of $89,060, which is higher than the $65,329 average annual salary of a technical writer.
The top three skills for a technical writer include technical documentation, subject matter experts and powerpoint. The most important skills for a managing editor are web content, editorial content, and SEO.
| Technical Writer | Managing Editor | |
| Yearly salary | $65,329 | $89,060 |
| Hourly rate | $31.41 | $42.82 |
| Growth rate | 6% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 75,090 | 16,781 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 81% |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
Technical Writers specialize in producing easy-to-understand instructional or informational written materials, such as media and journal articles, assessments and guidelines, and legal forms of documentation. For Technical Writers to develop well-versed content, one must conduct thorough research on the topic or idea to ensure factual legitimacy and communicate with those whose expertise aligns with the subject. Aside from producing, Technical Writers can also improve or convert complex written materials such as operating manuals or documents into one that can be easily understood by the general public.
Managing editors are individuals who coordinate and oversee the editorial activities of a publication. They administer the daily operations or a website or publication, such as generating ideas and planning and editing content. Their responsibilities include the recruitment, promotion, and firing of staff members. They even create and implement deadlines. Great managing editors are those who are updated on the latest trends and make informed decisions. They should also be equipped with skills in management and coaching.
Technical writers and managing editors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Writer | Managing Editor | |
| Average salary | $65,329 | $89,060 |
| Salary range | Between $48,000 And $87,000 | Between $59,000 And $132,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Meta | Federal Reserve Bank |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Media |
There are a few differences between a technical writer and a managing editor in terms of educational background:
| Technical Writer | Managing Editor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 81% |
| Most common major | English | Journalism |
| Most common college | University of Houston | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between technical writers' and managing editors' demographics:
| Technical Writer | Managing Editor | |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.7% Female, 50.3% | Male, 46.6% Female, 53.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 8.7% White, 71.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 7.1% White, 76.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 12% |