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.
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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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- 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.
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.
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
- 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.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Copy Writer?
Copy Writers Sector
Below are examples of industries where Copy Writers work:
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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