How Much Do Writers Make on Average Across Various Fields?

If you stumbled on this page, you might be toying with the idea of making a career switch as a writer. Or maybe, you’re contemplating whether becoming a full time, part time, or freelance writer makes the most sense for you. Either way, we’re here to get to the root of the question, “How much do writers make?” before making any moves. In this blog, we’ll focus on practical factors and common practice among other writers so that you can be confident in your decision, once and for all.

Key Takeaways

• Choosing the right payment structure can significantly impact how much freelance writers make
• Higher industry specialization and niche types of writing boost how much writers are paid
• Freelance writing has the potential to be lucrative and yield faster growth than writing for an employer

Things to consider before becoming a writer

While freelancing can definitely break the glass ceiling, it’s not for the faint of heart. If you want to give it a go, there are some things you should know. Being a writer involves research, planning, revisions, and let’s not forget our beloved writer’s block. If the goal is to become a freelance writer, you’ll find yourself focusing on marketing and revealing levels of self-discipline and hustle you may not have known exist. Keep in mind that even with the disruption AI has created on the job market, demand for writers is projected to grow in the next ten years, making it all the more relevant to find the answer to the question, “How much money do writers make?” In fact, you can use AI writing tools to make your writing experience even more efficient.

Average writer’s salary based on field

How much do writers make a year? In 2023, the average writer salary was $39 per hour. But writing is a giant umbrella that encompasses a wide variety of roles. Let’s take a closer look at the different writing categories.

Content writer

How much do blog writers make? Well, blog writers are a form of content writer. Content writers produce content for blogs, websites, or media outlets. So how much do content writers make? AI systems make it faster and easier to generate content, but also increase the demand for content writers that know how to work in tandem with them. Content writers average a salary of $55,000 per year.

Ghostwriters

Many celebrities are authors who have written their own books. Others have had ghostwriters step into their shoes to help turn their life story or ideas into a book. The path that leads to becoming a ghostwriter involves conducting interviews, storytelling using someone else’s style, and knowing how to write a book. In some cases, they may just have to polish up a manuscript so that it can be published. Ghostwriter salaries average $52,684 per year.

Grant writers

From research to scouting for grants to liaising between the provider and the recipient, grant writers are in charge of grant proposals from start to finish. If you succeed in winning a grant for an organization, that’s likely to play in your favor and lead to a more long-term contract and steady income. Grant writers are expected to earn up to $52,774 annually.

UX writers

UX writers are responsible for the microcopy you see on digital interfaces, whether you’re using a new app for the first time or navigating a website to make a purchase. The process of UX writing involves research (i.e. interviews and conversation mining), writing microcopy, and conducting user testing. UX writers can earn between $75,000 and $125,000 per year. Check out this UX writer salary blog to dive into the finer resolutions of a professional writer salary or use this handy salary calculator for an assist. Keep in mind that as a freelance UX writer, you’ll experience fewer barriers to entry, and higher earning potential. You’ll be surprised to find out how much you can make as a freelance writer. If you’re curious about making the transition into UX writing, we recommend starting with a free UX writing course. And when you’re ready to get more, you can check out how to become a UX writer or look into a UX writing course.

Copywriters

Common copywriter tasks involve writing newsletters, email campaigns, and other forms of persuasive content to help market a product or service. Geographic location as well as the industry that a copywriter works in also influence salary. Although full-time copywriters benefit from a consistent salary averaging $65,000 per year ($31 per hour), freelance copywriters that find the right balance between time management and pricing have the potential to earn even more. If you ever get confused about the difference between copywriters and UX writers, remember that copywriters drive sales and help a business, while UX writers help customers.

Technical writers

When we have to set up a new TV, figure out the settings on a laundry machine, or understand how to use a GoPro, it’s usually the technical writers who save us. Being a technical writer is a craft that relies on being able to make complex and tech-y subjects understandable on apps, instruction manuals, how-to guides, articles, product guides, and more – we won’t get too technical 🙂

The nature of a technical writer’s work is highly-detailed and leaves minimal room for error. Combine that with the requirement of a degree or other formal training in STEM fields, and you get a median salary of $75,002 per year ($40 per hour).

Factors that impact a writer’s income

Experience

While education can touch on legitimacy, experience is the gateway for faster and more quality deliverables, making the numbers on a paycheck climb. Skill levels such as  knowledge of SEO, editing, and marketing get factored into how much writers are paid. Entry-level content writers, for example, make around $37,000 a year, while senior content writers average $72,000 per year.

Salary structure

How much does a writer make per month? A global survey conducted among 346 participants showed that about 66% of freelance writers said they make $5,000 or less per month. So, how much does a writer make a year? It turns out their average salary is $50,475.

Another factor that influences freelance writing rates is the method they use to price their work. Most common price structures include a fixed rate, per word, and hourly rate. Based on a recent worldwide survey conducted with freelance writers, over half of writers use a fixed price structure. 

Some factors to consider when working up a fixed rate are word count, current demand, time constraints, number of revisions, market rate, value to client, number of interviews, copy/content type, subject complexity, outsourcing cost, level of expertise required, and anticipated stress. 

Based on the same survey, about 27% of freelance writers charge according to a pay-per-word rate (PPW). Use the table below, based on research by We Are Indy, to get a sense of price ranges depending on level of experience. One of the downfalls of this structure is that it’s harder to account for difficulty level and time spent both in writing and in preparation.

In contrast with the expert level PPW ($0.21-$0.30), a global survey showed that the average price per word for freelance writers is $0.01-$0.30 per word for 48.8% of freelance writers, while others range anywhere from $0.31 to $1 or more. This divide might help explain why writers who use a fixed salary model or combination of methods tend to earn more than those charging on a per word basis.

Finally, we have the hourly rate. In a global survey, nearly 66% charge more than $50 per hour (⅓ of that group charges $101+ per hour).

Industry and writing niches

Survey results from 2023 indicated different ranking content writer salaries according to industry. Content writer salaries in the internet industry are typically on the lower end averaging $55,943. The following industries are ranked according to salary in increasing order: media, healthcare, professional, retail, medical, tech, and finance with a salary of $97,968. 

At the end of the day, it’s important to choose a growing sector with demand for writers. Also, keep in mind that writing for B2B companies typically pays more than writing for B2C. While focusing on a particular industry doesn’t guarantee higher pay, survey results have shown that in many cases, it definitely doesn’t hurt.

Another way to specialize is to focus on a specific type of writing. Some niches to hone in on include blog posts/articles, writing microcopy for websites, social media content, writing emails, or writing whitepapers.

Geographic location

Writers working in metropolitan areas like London and New York typically earn more as a result of the higher cost of living. Within the United States, The average salary of a writer in California is a record breaking $73,120 per year ($35.15 per hour).

Our tips on boosting your writer’s income through effectively leveraging your skills

Gain exposure

Whether you’re an employed writer or a freelance writer, gaining exposure by putting content up on the web can help demonstrate both your writing style and seriousness. Take advantage of opportunities that can contribute to your portfolio, whether to diversify it or to focus more on a particular niche. Publish your work and implement reader feedback from piece to piece.

Track KPI’s

As subjective and elusive as writing can seem, it’s a tool to help reach various business goals. Take note of key performance indicators (KPIs) that indicate value to your writing. Use Google Analytics or similar tools to conduct an audit of metrics like website traffic, engagement on social media, leads/conversions, and improved search engine rankings.

Niche specialization

Where possible, surveys have shown that writers that specialize in writing blog posts, grants, website copy, or other categories have higher salaries and an easier time leveraging their expertise. Keep your finger on the pulse, stay updated on trends, and find ways to continuously learn.

Join a writing community

You are your worst critic, but there’s power in numbers and outside feedback. Join a writing community to learn from other people’s experience and benefit from their feedback and suggestions. Lean into the experience and opinions of fellow writers.

Final thoughts

Think of the path to becoming a writer like the process of writing: you’ll have to review and edit your career to sculpt it to your liking. Hold on to your passion and let it light the way.

Earning a competitive salary can take time; employment or freelance, industry, niche, number of clients, and the like will fall into place. Keep seeking out inspiration and putting in the work, and you’ll find a way. Don’t stop writing.

FAQ

Do writers make good money?

Writers have the potential to earn 3 figure salaries by striking the right balance between level of experience, type of writing, type of industry, and price structure. In general, freelance writers typically have greater chances of earning more than writers working as full-time employees.

What type of writing pays the most?

The types of writing that pay the most are typically different forms of technical writing like manuals or guides. Whitepapers and long-form writing like case-studies also yield a higher pay that can range from $500-$1,000. The tougher the writing, the more it pays. Writing for medical, financial, or other industries that rely on a deeper understanding of a topic also tend to pay more. Keep in mind that varying levels of experience have an influence on the types of rates that can be charged. Additionally, focusing on a niche in writing is more likely to yield higher income. 

How do I know if I’m receiving fair compensation for my work as a writer?

In order to make sure you’re receiving fair compensation as a writer, consider factors like your level of expertise, the type of writing you do, the industry you write for, the time a project takes, and your salary structure. Best practice suggests calculating how much you would earn using different pay structures to get a better idea of whether or not you’re being fairly compensated for your work as a writer.

Does a writer’s salary increase with experience?

A writer’s salary increases in correlation with increasing years of experience and industry or niche specialization. An entry-level may start out with a writer income of $37,000 and eventually earn $72,000 with increasing seniority.

Which country pays writers the most?

Countries pay writers relative to the cost of living, so salaries vary from place to place. In general, metropolitan cities like London and Chicago are considered hot spot destinations for writers.

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