Writers and Authors: Job Description
Originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material.
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What Do Writers and Authors Do?
The core tasks performed by writers and authors span:
- Develop advertising campaigns for a wide range of clients, working with an advertising agency's creative director and art director to determine the best way to present advertising information.
- Vary language and tone of messages based on product and medium.
- Present drafts and ideas to clients.
- Discuss with the client the product, advertising themes and methods, and any changes that should be made in advertising copy.
- Review advertising trends, consumer surveys, and other data regarding marketing of goods and services to determine the best way to promote products.
- Write articles, bulletins, sales letters, speeches, and other related informative, marketing and promotional material.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective writers and authors combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Writers and Authors Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Advertisement Agency Copywriter (Ad Agency Copywriter)
- Advertisement Copywriter (Ad Copywriter)
- Advertisement Writer (Ad Writer)
- Advertising Associate
- Advertising Copywriter
- Advertising Specialist
- Advertising Writer
- Article Writer
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 162,703 writers and authors working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to decline by -4.3% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Writers and Authors Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $63,195 |
| Hourly median | $30.38 |
| 10th percentile | $35,505 |
| 25th percentile | $49,350 |
| 75th percentile | $77,040 |
| 90th percentile | $90,885 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Writers and Authors Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $121,160 |
| Maryland | $107,540 |
| Washington | $86,170 |
| Vermont | $86,040 |
| Virginia | $80,990 |
| Connecticut | $80,950 |
| California | $80,470 |
| Massachusetts | $78,440 |
| Oregon | $77,830 |
| New Jersey | $75,640 |
| New Mexico | $73,790 |
| Texas | $71,650 |
| Louisiana | $70,810 |
| Ohio | $67,580 |
| West Virginia | $66,970 |
| Illinois | $66,180 |
| Minnesota | $65,900 |
| Florida | $65,830 |
| Idaho | $65,450 |
| Maine | $65,000 |
| Nebraska | $64,150 |
| Georgia | $64,070 |
| North Carolina | $63,720 |
| Arizona | $62,640 |
| Wisconsin | $62,450 |
| Indiana | $62,080 |
| Michigan | $61,800 |
| Utah | $61,020 |
| New Hampshire | $60,690 |
| Montana | $59,990 |
| Rhode Island | $59,550 |
| Kansas | $59,440 |
| Missouri | $59,040 |
| South Dakota | $58,740 |
| Tennessee | $58,620 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,170 |
| Delaware | $57,310 |
| Alabama | $57,120 |
| Iowa | $54,990 |
| Oklahoma | $52,720 |
| Nevada | $52,700 |
| North Dakota | $51,970 |
| South Carolina | $51,850 |
| Mississippi | $51,230 |
| Arkansas | $46,490 |
| Kentucky | $43,450 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,190 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for writers and authors shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $79,931 | 23.2% | 1.49 |
| New England | $76,014 | 5.1% | 1.15 |
| Southwest | $69,789 | 5.8% | 0.50 |
| Great Lakes | $64,803 | 10.5% | 0.79 |
| Southeast | $64,714 | 22.3% | 1.01 |
| Plains States | $61,715 | 4.9% | 0.78 |
| Middle Atlantic | $38,718 | 23.0% | 2.07 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $37,190 | 0.3% | 0.41 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $107,810 | 390 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $106,340 | 2,310 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $100,550 | 290 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $97,680 | 1,330 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | CA | $96,240 | 40 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $96,120 | 60 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | CT | $92,280 | 80 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $90,320 | 720 |
Top Industries Employing Writers and Authors
Most writers and authors are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 14,380 | $69,020 |
| Information | 12,010 | $73,070 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 5,300 | n/a |
| Educational Services | 3,500 | $71,340 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 2,480 | $83,680 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 1,930 | $80,350 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1,440 | $65,500 |
| Retail Trade | 1,160 | $68,880 |
Writers and Authors work in the following industries:
Tools and Technology
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Video creation and editing software: Adobe After Effects (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Creative Cloud software (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Desktop publishing software: Adobe InDesign (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software: Asana (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Canva (hot technology)
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Graphical user interface development software: Figma (hot technology)
- Data mining software: Google Analytics (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of writers and authors reflects the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Time Pressure
- Telephone Conversations
- Frequency of Decision Making
Getting Started in This Career
Typical writers and authors positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes (Supplemental)
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists (Supplemental)
- Search Marketing Strategists (Primary-Short)
- Web and Digital Interface Designers (Supplemental)
- Art Directors (Primary-Long)
- Special Effects Artists and Animators (Supplemental)
- Graphic Designers (Supplemental)
- Producers and Directors (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Future writers and authors often complete programs in:
English Language and Literature/Letters
8 programs across 2 majors
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
6 programs across 3 majors
Visual and Performing Arts
2 programs across 1 majors
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
2 programs across 1 majors
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 27-3043.00 (Writers and Authors).
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