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Copy Writer

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Life As a Copy Writer

Copy Writer Definition Write advertising copy for use by publication or broadcast media to promote sale of goods and services.

Copy Writer Responsibilities

  • Conduct research and interviews to determine which of a product’s selling features should be promoted.
  • Write articles, bulletins, sales letters, speeches, and other related informative, marketing and promotional material.
  • Present drafts and ideas to clients.
  • Review advertising trends, consumer surveys, and other data regarding marketing of goods and services to determine the best way to promote products.
  • Invent names for products and write the slogans that appear on packaging, brochures and other promotional material.
  • Write to customers in their terms and on their level so that the advertiser’s sales message is more readily received.

What Every Copy Writer Should Know

When polled, Copy Writers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

  • Copywriter
  • Creative Services Manager
  • Production Director
  • Freelance Writer
  • Advertising Writer

Job Opportunities for Copy Writers

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 131,200 jobs in the United States for Copy Writer. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 10,000 new jobs for Copy Writer by 2026. The BLS estimates 12,600 yearly job openings in this field.

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The states with the most job growth for Copy Writer are Utah, Washington, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Kansas, New Mexico, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Copy Writer Salary

The typical yearly salary for Copy Writers is somewhere between $31,700 and $121,670.

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Copy Writers who work in District of Columbia, California, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.

How much do Copy Writers make in each U.S. state?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $58,590
Alaska $64,200
Arizona $55,410
Arkansas $48,670
California $96,910
Colorado $65,450
Connecticut $78,440
Delaware $60,690
District of Columbia $101,690
Florida $53,140
Georgia $63,260
Hawaii $50,740
Idaho $52,570
Illinois $68,710
Indiana $61,920
Iowa $50,680
Kansas $62,670
Kentucky $54,320
Louisiana $44,710
Maine $61,090
Maryland $75,430
Massachusetts $70,000
Michigan $60,850
Minnesota $67,300
Mississippi $53,810
Missouri $57,420
Montana $47,440
Nebraska $45,280
Nevada $53,730
New Hampshire $56,850
New Jersey $81,160
New Mexico $49,460
New York $86,380
North Carolina $67,250
North Dakota $48,060
Ohio $48,380
Oklahoma $50,490
Oregon $69,050
Pennsylvania $60,140
Rhode Island $63,820
South Dakota $49,410
Tennessee $55,370
Texas $56,680
Utah $54,660
Vermont $62,260
Virginia $68,600
Washington $65,200
West Virginia $64,480
Wisconsin $59,360

What Tools & Technology do Copy Writers Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Copy Writers:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Hypertext markup language HTML
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Access
  • MySQL
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
  • Facebook
  • Google Docs
  • FileMaker Pro
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
  • PHP: Hypertext preprocessor
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver
  • YouTube
  • Google Drive

How do I Become a Copy Writer?

Learn what Copy Writer education requirements there are.

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Copy Writer?

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Copy Writers Sector

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Below are examples of industries where Copy Writers work:

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References:

Image Credit: UNU-WIDER from Helsinki, Finland via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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