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The differences between writer and editors and staff writers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a writer and editor, becoming a staff writer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a writer and editor has an average salary of $61,482, which is higher than the $44,844 average annual salary of a staff writer.
The top three skills for a writer and editor include web content, blog posts and press releases. The most important skills for a staff writer are feature stories, news stories, and event coverage.
| Writer And Editor | Staff Writer | |
| Yearly salary | $61,482 | $44,844 |
| Hourly rate | $29.56 | $21.56 |
| Growth rate | -5% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 14,865 | 80,547 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
Writing is not an easy task, so a Writer and an Editor must work together to deliver quality content. A writer's role is to gather information to create a structured written material that would serve its purpose, whether for recreational or informational. Moreover, it is the Editor's responsibility to oversee and examine what the Writer has produced. From this, the Editor will provide feedback, corrections or suggestions, and guidelines that the Writer can follow to improve the material.
A staff writer is an individual who works in the television (TV) or entertainment industry to provide standard content such as news reports, reviews, and features. Since writing content is important, staff writers must be able to collaborate and brainstorm ideas with other staff members in the production process. They must attend conferences, events, or seminars to meet other people in the industry. Staff writers must also possess knowledge in scriptwriting and an in-depth understanding of the entertainment industry.
Writer and editors and staff writers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Writer And Editor | Staff Writer | |
| Average salary | $61,482 | $44,844 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $103,000 | Between $29,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Apple | The New York Times Company |
| Best paying industry | Internet | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a writer and editor and a staff writer in terms of educational background:
| Writer And Editor | Staff Writer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Most common major | English | Journalism |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between writer and editors' and staff writers' demographics:
| Writer And Editor | Staff Writer | |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 40.0% Female, 60.0% | Male, 49.2% Female, 50.8% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 8.8% White, 71.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 11% |