Writer Salary: A Guide to Better Pay in 2022

Do you have a natural inclination to think creatively? Do you have a passion for words and language? Then, becoming a writer is the finest career choice for you.

Writers create well-crafted works for us to read and appreciate. They excite our imagination, educate us, and maintain our interest through their writings. A writer will work carefully with words and apply the principles of language.

Novelists, poets, journalists, screenwriters, playwrights, copywriters, and so on are all examples of writers. Academic, creative, business, professional, and journalistic writing are all examples of different types of writing.

Do you wish to become a writer? Then, this is the right time!

From 2020 to 2030, the employment of writers and authors is expected to grow at a rate of 9%, which is similar to other occupations.

Over the next ten years, an average of 15,400 opportunities are expected to come up for writers. Many of those positions arise when people change occupations or leave the workforce for other reasons, such as retirement.

Do you wish to know about writer salary in-depth? Then, you are at the right place!
Read on to understand what factors affect a writer’s salary and how to be compensated fairly.

• What do writers do?
• What is the highest salary for a writer?
• How much does a content writer make?

What do writers do?

When you think of people who write for a living, you might think of a novelist. There are, however, several methods to make a career as a writer. A writer can write for blogs, websites, online articles, journals, screenplays, etc.

To be authentic in their writings, writers conduct extensive research. Writers may work from almost anywhere, and many are self-employed or freelance. Writers have even been known to self-publish books and start their own blogs.

How Much Money Does a Writer Make?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median writer salary is $69,510.

Writers and authors provide written content on a variety of platforms. Writers and authors may work from anywhere using a computer. Many authors and writers are freelance workers.

Although writers and novelists may work from practically anywhere, they are concentrated in major media and entertainment markets such as California, New York, Texas, and Washington. Some writers and authors prefer to work and travel to meet publishers and clients in person, as well as do research and interviews.

The writer salary thus depends on their role, industry, and their expertise. Writers on the lower end of the scale, the poorest 10%, earn around $42,000 per year, while those in the top 10% earn around $102,000.

The top-paying industries for writers include technology, professional services, and media.

Writer Salary Based on Roles

In the United States, the expected total compensation for a writer is $61,185 per year, with an average salary of $56,986 per year. The extra salary is anticipated to be $4,199 per year. Cash bonuses, commissions, tips, and profit-sharing are given as further compensation.

Writer Salary Based on Experience

So, the writer salary is commensurate with years of experience gained and expertise.

Also Read: How to draft a resume for a technical writer?

Writer Salary Based on Location

The average hourly writer salary is $31.6.

How to Get Paid Better as a Writer?

Let's find out what skills a writer actually needs in order to be successful in the workplace. We have compiled a list of the most important skills for a writer.

Communication

Communication skills help in refined writing skills in business communication, completing tasks independently and efficiently, and generating effective relationships with diverse cultures at the workplace.

Also Read: How to prepare for technical writer interview?

Customer Service

It helps to handle various customer service inquiries and utilize operational systems to process transactions. If a writer is skilled at handling service inquiries, then they would be compensated better compared to someone with just written skills.

Web Content

Most brands are turning digital. Hence, a writer must know how to produce quality content on varied topics for the web. It could be used on social media, the company’s website, email marketing, or a newsletter.

Also Read: How to prepare for copywriter interview?

SEO

Many organizations are looking to increase their visibility through organic channels. Being knowledgeable on SEO practices is an added advantage for a writer and is a must-have skill.

Topics

A writer must also be able to produce content on topics of varied nature. This includes extensive research to produce authentic content and knowing how to keep the audience engaged.

It pays to read diverse topics and have a solid understanding of ongoing trends to tap into its potential for a writer.

Also Read: How to draft a resume for a writer?

Key Takeaways

There are many writer jobs available nowadays. A writer salary depends on

• The industry: Top-paying industries for writers include technology, professional services, and media.
• The role- Technical writers and editorial writers are the highest-paid.
• The level of experience- There is a huge difference between the compensation of a junior writer and an executive writer or a writer with 8+ years of experience.
• The location- San Francisco, Phoenix, and New York have the highest writer salary.
• The skillset- Build your skills well as a writer to get paid better. Focus on developing communication skills, customer service skills, SEO, and writing on varied topics and mediums.

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