How Much Do Writers Make? + How to Earn More
Explore your earning potential as a writer, break the myth of the underpaid writer, and discover what you can do to earn more doing what you love.
By Julie Tyler Ruiz
CONTENTS:
- Job outlook for writers in 2024
- Writer salary averages based on job title
- Writer salary averages based on experience
- Top paying US cities for writers
- Top paying companies for writers
- Key learnings from salary data
- How to earn more as a writer
Job outlook for writers in 2024
When starting or advancing your career in professional writing, knowing your earning potential is an important step in charting your path. While the old stereotype of the "penniless writer" persists, the reality is far more promising—there are plenty of lucrative and fulfilling opportunities for turning your writing passion into a career.
My advice: Don't be swayed by hearsay or well-meaning advice suggesting that writing doesn’t pay. Instead, rely on solid, real-world data to guide your decisions about the kind of writing you want to pursue and the roles you aim to fill.
In fact, here's a stat that might surprise you:
According to 2023 data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, writers and authors made, on average, $73,690 per year [1]. This figure is higher than the national salary average for all occupations, $65,470 [2].
Moreover, the job outlook for writers and authors is promising. Employment in this field is projected to grow by 5 percent by 2033, keeping pace with the average for all occupations, with about 15,100 openings expected each year [1].
And there are writers out there earning a lot more than average, as we'll explore here.
In this article, I'm going to walk you through US salary data for different writing job titles, as reported on popular career sites, and offer strategies for increasing your earning potential. Through this approach, you can make empowered writing career decisions and leverage your talent to meet your income goals.
Writer salary averages based on job title
Your salary as a writer depends on your actual job title and the business function you perform. Let's look at some industry-wide salary averages for common writing job titles, using September 2024 data from job listings and employee reports on Indeed and Glassdoor, as of September 2024:
Content writer
Content writers create engaging, informative, and relevant written content for websites, blogs, articles, social media, and more, tailored to a target audience to inform, entertain, or persuade.
SEO content strategist
SEO content strategists develop content plans that focus on optimizing web pages for search engines by conducting keyword research, analyzing content performance, and implementing SEO best practices to increase visibility and drive organic traffic.
Technical writer
Technical writers produce clear, concise documentation such as user manuals, product guides, and instructions, often translating complex technical information into easily understandable text for non-technical audiences.
Grant writer
Grant writers research funding opportunities and write compelling grant proposals, applications, and supporting documents aimed at securing funds from government agencies, foundations, and other organizations for nonprofits, businesses, or research projects.
Writer salary averages based on experience
Writer salaries vary significantly depending on years of experience. Below are salary averages for the job titles we're exploring, based on employees' experience levels, according to Glassdoor's September 2024 data.
Content writers [4]:
- 0-1 years of experience: $54K on average
- 15+ years of experience: $83K on average.
SEO content strategists [6]:
- 0-1 years of experience: $59K on average
- 15+ years of experience: $102K on average
Technical writers [8]:
- 0-1 years of experience: $65K on average
- 15+ years of experience: $118K on average
Grant writers [10]:
- 0-1 years of experience: $54K on average
- 15+ years of experience: $76K on average
Top paying US cities for writers
Location can have a big impact on writer salaries. Here are some of the top-paying US cities for the job titles we're exploring, based on Indeed's September 2024 data.
Cities where content writers earn the highest salaries include [3]:
- Washington, DC: $125,478 average
- Tampa, FL: $74,607 average
- Nashville, TN: $73,092 average
Cities where SEO content strategists earn the highest salaries include [5]:
- New York City: $102,994 average
Cities where technical writers earn the highest salaries include [7]:
- Sunnyvale, CA: $100,042 average
- Washington, DC: $88,226 average
- Santa Clara, CA: $82,787 average
Cities where grant writers earn the highest salaries include [9]:
- San Francisco, CA: $83,157
- San Diego, CA: $81,282
- Los Angeles, CA: $70,842
Top paying companies for writers
Top paying companies for content writers include [4]:
- Meta: $131,564
- Cisco: $115,097
- Google: $111,037
Top paying companies for technical writers include [8]:
- Google: $184,073
- Stripe: $172,188
- Meta: $168,876
Top paying companies for grant writers include [10]:
- College Track: $65,010
- ZIM Consulting: $63,941
- Elevate (DC): $61,665
Key learnings from salary data
Here’s what we can quickly infer from the salary data in this article:
- Writing can pay well, with average salaries for writers surpassing the national average for all occupations.
- Experience matters—writers with 15+ years in their field can command significantly higher salaries, with some reaching six figures in roles like SEO content strategist and technical writer.
- Location plays a role—top-paying cities for writers include Washington, DC, and New York, where salaries often exceed $100K.
While we only looked at four writing roles and just a few factors that influence pay, our exploration gives you a starting point for understanding salary possibilities and the employment landscape for writers.
Additionally, technical writing and SEO content strategy are particularly lucrative paths:
- Technical writers are in demand for their ability to simplify complex information, especially in industries like tech and healthcare.
- SEO content strategists help businesses boost their online presence, making them essential for driving web traffic and growth.
With the right skills and experience, writing can offer a rewarding, high-paying career. Expand your job search to include a variety of roles, cities, and companies that interest you. Revisit this research regularly to stay updated on industry trends and maximize your earning potential.
How to earn more as a writer
Start by aligning your passions, career goals, and salary expectations. Get into a career mindset by reviewing my professional writing guides:
- "Your 2024 Quick Guide to Professional Writing"
- "How to Become a Professional Writer: 7 Steps to Launch Your Career"
Next, use these strategies to gather momentum and create high-earning opportunities:
1. Build a strong professional network, online and offline.
Cultivate relationships with industry leaders, professional writers, business owners, and key figures in your field. Engage in conversations to discover job opportunities in your area. Attend networking events, conferences, and connect through social media or professional organizations to become someone people recognize and refer others to.
2. Build in-demand skills in high-paying industries.
Identify the skills employers value most in writers, and invest in courses, projects, or certifications to master them. ZipRecruiter's Career Keyword Mapper can help you find trending skills from job postings and resumes. For example, top-mentioned skills for content writers include SEO, blogging, editing, copywriting, digital marketing, social media, and journalism [11].
3. Build an impressive portfolio.
Showcase your writing skills in an easily accessible online portfolio. Include writing samples that not only demonstrate your talent but also highlight the measurable impact of your work. For example, quantify how your writing boosted traffic or engagement. Gathering references and testimonials will further enhance your portfolio's credibility.
4. Practice negotiating higher pay.
Whether you're freelancing or employed, strong negotiation skills are key to commanding higher rates and salaries. Stay on top of the industry salary averages, as we explored in this article, and practice articulating your worth and the value you bring to clients or employers.
Salary data sources
1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Occupational Outlook Handbooks: Writers and Authors," https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/writers-and-authors.htm.
2. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. "May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics," https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm.
3. Indeed. "Content writer salary in United States," https://www.indeed.com/career/content-writer/salaries.
4. Glassdoor. "How much does a content writer make?" https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/content-writer-salary-SRCH_KO0,14.htm.
5. Indeed. "SEO content strategist salary in United States," https://www.indeed.com/career/seo-content-strategist/salaries.
6. Glassdoor. "How much does an SEO content strategist make?" https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/seo-content-strategist-salary-SRCH_KO0,22.htm.
7. Indeed. "Technical writer salary in United States," https://www.indeed.com/career/technical-writer/salaries.
8. Glassdoor. "How much does a technical writer make?" https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/technical-writer-salary-SRCH_KO0,16.htm.
9. Indeed. "Grant writer salary in United States," https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/technical-writer-salary-SRCH_KO0,16.htm.
10. Glassdoor. "How much does a grant writer make?" https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/grant-writer-salary-SRCH_KO0,12.htm.
11. ZipRecruiter. "Content writer must-have resume skills and keywords," https://www.ziprecruiter.com/career/Content-Writer/Resume-Keywords-and-Skills.
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Author
Julie Tyler Ruiz
Creator of StoryBold
