Writers and authors
SOC Code: 27-3043Also known as:
Advertisement Agency Copywriter (Ad Agency Copywriter), Advertisement Copywriter (Ad Copywriter), Advertisement Writer (Ad Writer), Advertising Associate, Advertising Copywriter
Median Annual Salary
$72,270
+3.6% growth (2024-2034)
13K
Openings/Year
135K
Current Jobs
What Writers and authors Do
Originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material.
💰 Salary
$72,270
Median annual wage (2024)
📈 Job Growth
+3.6%
As fast as average
🎓 Education
Bachelor's degree
Typical entry-level requirement
🚀 Annual Openings
13K
Projected average per year
📚 On-the-Job Training
Long-term on-the-job training
Expected training period
Employment Projections (2024-2034)
Current Employment (2024)
135,400
Projected Employment (2034)
140,300
Related Careers
Public relations specialists
$69,780 •
+4.8% growth
Writers and authors
$72,270 •
+3.6% growth
Advertising sales agents
$61,460 •
-6.4% growth
Top Skills Required
Writing
Writing
Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Daily Tasks & Responsibilities
- 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.
- Write fiction or nonfiction prose, such as short stories, novels, biographies, articles, descriptive or critical analyses, and essays.
- Develop factors such as themes, plots, characterizations, psychological analyses, historical environments, action, and dialogue to create material.
- Revise written material to meet personal standards and to satisfy needs of clients, publishers, directors, or producers.
- Choose subject matter and suitable form to express personal feelings and experiences or ideas, or to narrate stories or events.
Technology & Tools
📚 Entry-Level Education
Bachelor's degree
Most common requirement
🎯 Recommended Education
Bachelor's Degree
O*NET recommended level
Degree Programs for Writers and authors
These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a writers and authors:
Speech Communication and Rhetoric
32,944 degrees awarded •
744 colleges offer this program
Communication, General
11,299 degrees awarded •
366 colleges offer this program
Journalism
9,378 degrees awarded •
361 colleges offer this program
Mass Communication/Media Studies
8,694 degrees awarded •
314 colleges offer this program
Creative Writing
7,423 degrees awarded •
441 colleges offer this program
Professional, Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing
2,835 degrees awarded •
159 colleges offer this program
Rhetoric and Composition
1,400 degrees awarded •
86 colleges offer this program
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
1,080 degrees awarded •
67 colleges offer this program
Playwriting and Screenwriting
863 degrees awarded •
52 colleges offer this program
Business/Corporate Communications, General
801 degrees awarded •
57 colleges offer this program
Best Colleges for Becoming a Writers and authors
Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become writers and authors.
Want this ranking as a spreadsheet? Investor Pro+ members can export any Repit table to CSV. See plans →
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do writers and authors make?
The median annual salary for writers and authors is $72,270.
What education do writers and authors need?
Most writers and authors positions require a bachelor's degree.
Common degree programs include Speech Communication and Rhetoric, Communication, General, Journalism.
Is becoming writers and authors a good career choice?
Writers and authors is projected to see +3.6% job growth from 2024 to 2034,
which is about average for all occupations. With approximately 13,400 job openings expected annually,
there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for writers and authors?
Top colleges for aspiring writers and authors include
University of California-Los Angeles, University of California-Santa Barbara, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Southern California, University of Florida.
These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to writers and authors?
Writers and authors may also be known 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, Author, Biographer, Blurb Writer, Business Writer, Communications Specialist, Content Creator, Content Developer, Content Writer, Copywriter, Creative Copywriter, Curriculum Writer, Digital Copywriter.
These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.