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Writer vs assistant editor

The differences between writers and assistant 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 writer and an assistant editor. Additionally, a writer has an average salary of $66,143, which is higher than the $52,284 average annual salary of an assistant editor.

The top three skills for a writer include work ethic, customer service and web content. The most important skills for an assistant editor are editorial content, video footage, and web content.

Writer vs assistant editor overview

WriterAssistant Editor
Yearly salary$66,143$52,284
Hourly rate$31.80$25.14
Growth rate4%-5%
Number of jobs13,9318,716
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Average age4244
Years of experience44

What does a writer do?

A writer can have different responsibilities depending on which industry or line of work they are involved. There are writers assigned in a corporate setting, some in journalism, while there are also writers in the entertainment Industry. Although they focus on varying types of writing, they all function to inform. Among the typical duties of writers involve producing content within allotted time or deadline, gather information and verify to ensure accuracy, proofread, and undergo review and revisions.

What does an assistant editor do?

An assistant editor is an individual responsible for assisting an editor-in-chief or editor-at-large of a newspaper, magazine, radio program, or website. Assistant editors hold meetings with staff and freelance writers to discuss new, fresh and original content for projects on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. They review assignments handed in by writers or reporters for sense, accuracy, readability, and content. Assistant editors must also utilize new media applications such as Twitter and Facebook to draw attention to an article or cause.

Writer vs assistant editor salary

Writers and assistant editors have different pay scales, as shown below.

WriterAssistant Editor
Average salary$66,143$52,284
Salary rangeBetween $40,000 And $107,000Between $34,000 And $78,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAHuntington, NY
Highest paying stateMassachusettsNew York
Best paying companyAppleApple
Best paying industry-Media

Differences between writer and assistant editor education

There are a few differences between a writer and an assistant editor in terms of educational background:

WriterAssistant Editor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Most common majorEnglishEnglish
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyNorthwestern University

Writer vs assistant editor demographics

Here are the differences between writers' and assistant editors' demographics:

WriterAssistant Editor
Average age4244
Gender ratioMale, 46.2% Female, 53.8%Male, 45.9% Female, 54.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 5.0% White, 75.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%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 Percentage16%12%

Differences between writer and assistant editor duties and responsibilities

Writer example responsibilities.

  • Operate AP NEWSCENTER/ENPS and manage CNN feed services.
  • Manage the Instagram account, which mean publishing and keeping up to date with the articles.
  • Manage projects diligently under aggressive deadlines while maintaining editorial integrity and ensuring stories have entertainment and/or educational value.
  • Participate in roundtable discussions offering hot takes and opinions on NBA and NFL teams, players, and coaches.
  • Train all staff on using the CMS.
  • Place stories into CS3 InDesign pages.
  • Show more

Assistant editor example responsibilities.

  • Lead bureau newsgathering in high-pressure, breaking news situations.
  • Manage the budget for all of VOA s primary newsgathering.
  • Produce e-newsletters, manage website content, write headlines and captions, utilize SEO and analyze digital traffic.
  • Communicate with transportation managers, administrators, equipment operators and others for fulfillment of copy to achieve editorial goals.
  • Ensure compliance with PRC and FDA guidelines.
  • Increase social media presence and traffic through Facebook and Instagram.
  • Show more

Writer vs assistant editor skills

Common writer skills
  • Work Ethic, 18%
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Web Content, 8%
  • Math, 7%
  • SEO, 5%
  • SQL, 3%
Common assistant editor skills
  • Editorial Content, 9%
  • Video Footage, 8%
  • Web Content, 5%
  • Media Management, 4%
  • Production Process, 4%
  • Twitter, 3%

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