By Jayne Thompson Updated June 29, 2018
Newcomers with the writing bug are often surprised to learn just how many paths there are to choose from in the writing field. It is easy to see the "obvious" roles in book authorship and journalism, but writers are responsible for everything from instruction manuals and annual reports to movie scripts, advertisements, resumes and social-media posts. Some jobs pay better than others but generally, there's good money to be made in the more specialized writing careers.
Speech Writer
Politicians, celebrities and business executives rarely have the time to write their own speeches. That's where a speechwriter comes in. He works with the speaker to create a theme for the speech, then crafts a draft based on those key points. This is ghostwriting at its finest – the speechwriter remains anonymous while carefully matching the speaker's style, tone and philosophy. The median salary is a whopping $79,115 per year, meaning that half of all speechwriters earn above that amount. Senior speechwriters who really make an impact can pull in $144,150 annually at the top end.
Medical Writer
Medical writers write research papers, protocols, best-practice plans, training materials and other clinical documents for both medical professionals and patients. Much of the job involves conducting research; a medical writer must be versatile and capable of translating complex scientific information for the intended audience. Medical writers earn a median $70,896 per year, while experienced writers pull in more than $136,000 annually. Most have at least a bachelor's degree in a scientific field and many are qualified doctors, which explains why medical writing is one of the highest-paid writing jobs.
Technical Writer
Technical writers don't get much glory for their for their user manuals and computer documentation but for those with technology skills, it is a lucrative writing field. This type of work requires deep subject-matter knowledge in such fields as computer hardware, software and engineering. In many cases, their writing is aimed at an expert audience so fluency with the relevant industry terminology is a must. Median earnings come to $57,775 per year for all technical writers or $80,967 for senior technical writers with ten years under their belt.
Proposal Writer
Proposal writers are business writers in a class of their own. They specialize in creating business proposals such as bids and tenders to win contracts for their employer. Research is a key part of the job, and proposal writers spend a lot of time analyzing requests for quotations, researching the market and determining potential costs before writing the proposal. This type of writing requires a deep understanding of business language, copywriting techniques and procurement. Since a good proposal could potentially reap large financial results for the company, successful proposal writers tend to be paid very well. The median salary comes in at $54,419 per year in a range that typically runs from $38,913 to $81,342 annually.
Marketing and Sales Copywriter
Copywriters write words or "copy" in order to sell something or increase the perception of a company's brand. Day-to-day, they produce website copy, company brochures, flyers, advertisements, sales letters, emails, case studies and other types of marketing literature in a way that invokes interest in a product and builds the reader's trust. Copywriters tend to work for large advertising or digital agencies; others work freelance, winning their own clients and setting their own hours and pay rates. The median salary comes in at $48,559 annually in 2018. Good words sell, however, and those that have a special way with words may command significantly higher freelance rates.
FAQs
The Best-Paid Writing Jobs? ›
Even with little or no experience, you can make $1,000 or more per month as a freelance writer in a short period of time. But that's just the beginning! Some of the go getters I know earn as much as $100K- $200K a year from freelance copywriting jobs (more about that below)!
Can I make $1000 a month freelance writing? ›Even with little or no experience, you can make $1,000 or more per month as a freelance writer in a short period of time. But that's just the beginning! Some of the go getters I know earn as much as $100K- $200K a year from freelance copywriting jobs (more about that below)!
Do writing jobs pay well? ›There are many people working high-paying writing jobs and earning a respectable income. May editors make $80,000 a year or more. Content managers can easily break six figures. Work on excelling in areas like our list of highest paying writing jobs below to increase your income.
Can I make 100K as a writer? ›Yes, you can make $100,000 per year as a writer.
The chances of earning over $100k for a writer are actually pretty good because the highest-paid writer positions typically pay at least $102,000 per year. The average annual salary is $65,718 for writer jobs.
- 1 Grant writer.
- 2 Speech writer.
- 3 Content writer.
- 4 Copywriter.
- 5 Technical writer.
- 6 Editor.
- 7 Medical writer.
- 8 Ghostwriter.
To answer the question, can you make a living as a freelance writer? You most certainly can. I came from nothing, with no degree or connections, and have paid my bills with it since about 1995. And I am definitely not the only one who earns a living this way.
Is freelance writing oversaturated? ›The market is not too saturated. Yes, there are millions of people who identify as freelancers in the world. There are also millions of jobs for freelance writers of all types.
What type of freelance writing pays the most? ›The healthcare and medical sector is one of the highest-paying niches in freelance writing. Content in this niche requires similar skill sets to technical writing—as well as extensive knowledge of the healthcare industry.
Is writing an in demand skill? ›The ability to clearly communicate ideas through writing is in high demand for employers in any industry.
How do I get a lucrative writing career? ›- Always look for new freelance writing jobs. ...
- Pitch your own stories. ...
- Don't quit your day job. ...
- Turn in clean copy. ...
- Start blogging. ...
- Learn fundamental SEO skills. ...
- Take different types of assignments. ...
- Develop a thick skin.
Are writing jobs hard? ›
Becoming a professional writer can be hard, and good writing should be an interactive experience. Yes, writing is difficult, but it is also enjoyable. If you want to overcome writer's block, you need to identify some of the biggest challenges. Then, you can use your writing skills to overcome them.
How can I make $200 K a year? ›- Voice actor.
- Plastic surgeon.
- Oral surgeon.
- Information security director.
- Investment banker.
- Judge.
- Anesthesiologist.
- Dermatologist.
- Actor.
- Author.
- Insurance agent.
- Accountant.
- Professional athlete.
- Hedge fund manager.
- Investment banker.
- Real estate developer.
To make $100k with those 24books, you'd need to sell 174 copies of each book each month. After the third year, you'll have 36 books published. To make $100k with those 36 books, you'd need to sell 116 copies of each book each month.
What career path is writing? ›Graduates can pursue writing careers in education, public relations, and multimedia communication. Online writing bachelor's degrees also offer students the opportunity to specialize in a specific type of writing. Options include creative writing, technical and scientific writing, and business writing.
Is writing a stable career? ›A content writing career can be very stable for some, as well as highly volatile for others, depending on how one perceives the opportunities and responsibilities in this career. Below are some of the most popular and recommended professions that could be pursued to build a stable career in content writing.
Where can I write and get paid? ›- Upwork. Upwork is one of the most popular platforms freelancers use to find work online. ...
- Copyhackers. ...
- Fiverr. ...
- Listverse. ...
- Vibrant Life. ...
- Narratively. ...
- FreelanceMom. ...
- nDash.
The national average salary for a Writer is ₹25,758 in India.
How much do barefoot writers get paid? ›How Much Do Barefoot Writer Jobs Pay per Hour? $17.07 is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers.
How much can you realistically make as a freelance writer? ›Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | |
---|---|---|
Top Earners | $156,000 | $75 |
75th Percentile | $63,500 | $31 |
Average | $60,985 | $29 |
25th Percentile | $37,500 | $18 |
What is a fair rate for freelance writing? ›
Here's a breakdown to help you gauge your per-hour rate based on your experience level: Entry Level — $15 to $30 per hour. Intermediate — $35 to $60 per hour. Experienced — $65 to $100 per hour.
Is freelance writing taxed? ›In the eyes of the IRS, freelance writers are independent contractors. And as an independent contractor, you have to pay self-employment taxes if you earn more than $400 in a calendar year. The self-employment tax rate is 15.3%. It represents 12.4% in Social Security tax and 2.9% in Medicare tax.
How do I break into freelance writing? ›- Build a portfolio. Small businesses hit just as many highs as they do lows in the beginning. ...
- Start pitching. ...
- Start your own blog. ...
- Scour job boards. ...
- Embrace the side hustle.
Job Outlook
Employment of writers and authors is projected to grow 4 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 15,200 openings for writers and authors are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
IF you want to become a serious freelance writer, you have to be writing more than 100 words a day. Depending on what you are writing, you will probably be averaging over 1000 words a day.
What type of content writing is in demand? ›What Type of Content Writers Are in Demand? Some of the most in-demand content writer jobs out there right now are: Blog Writers: Professionals in this position take their research and turn it into easily digestible pieces of content for readers.
How do I find my niche in writing? ›- Read lots of content. If you think you might enjoy a specific topic or type of content, look for and read lots of examples. ...
- Look at job boards. ...
- Start a blog. ...
- Establish a social media presence. ...
- Write a guest post.
Basic writing skills: These include spelling, capitalization, punctuation, handwriting and keyboarding, and sentence structure (e.g., learning to eliminate run-ons and sentence fragments). Basic writing skills are sometimes called the “mechanics” of writing.
What are the five writing skills? ›Writing Skills Definition
Skills like research, planning and outlining, editing, revising, spelling and grammar, and organization are critical components of the writing process.
- knowledge of English language.
- excellent written communication skills.
- persistence and determination.
- excellent verbal communication skills.
- the ability to use your initiative.
- the ability to come up with new ways of doing things.
- ambition and a desire to succeed.
- knowledge of media production and communication.
Can you make six figures as a freelance writer? ›
Well, it's going to take consistency, dedication, and patience. Still, it's possible to make six figures as a freelance writer. And to help reach this goal, you'll need to utilize these tips.
Who is the six figure freelance writer? ›In Six-Figure Freelance Writer, author Amy Suto shares her tried-and-true strategies on how she lands high-paying, high-quality projects as a memoir ghostwriter and creative copywriter—all while traveling the world and not working crazy hours.
How much do beginner Writers make a year? ›While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $52,000 and as low as $23,500, the majority of Entry Level Content Writer salaries currently range between $40,000 (25th percentile) to $47,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $52,000 annually across the United States.
Do writers get tired of writing? ›Writer's fatigue and writer's block are similar concepts. Whereas blocks can happen at any point in the writing process, even before you've begun, fatigue normally occurs after extended periods of writing. The condition is frustrating, emotionally draining, and affects confidence.
Do writers work long hours? ›Erica Vetsch: The true answer is—it depends. If I'm on a deadline of some kind, I can write from 4-6 hours a day. Mostly, I write from 2-4 hours on weekday afternoons. I do lots of other writing tasks like editing, marketing, blogging, etc, but for writing on the manuscript, I average about 3 hours per weekday.
How many hours does it take to become a good writer? ›You certainly know that writing takes time, but what do you know about writing and the 10,000-hour rule? Best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell popularized the notion that in order to be really good at something, you need to spend 10,000 hours doing it.
How to make 150K a year without a degree? ›The best way to earn $150K without a degree is by enrolling in a coding bootcamp, taking online courses, and networking. To change your career path and earn a high salary, you must acquire and master the necessary skills.
How to make $200,000 a year without college? ›- Real estate associate. National average salary: $68,366 per year. ...
- Voice-over artist. National average salary: $77,630 per year. ...
- Business owner. National average salary: $93,295 + $9,500 in profit sharing per year. ...
- Inspector. ...
- Makeup artist. ...
- Sales representative. ...
- Web developer. ...
- Truck driver.
- Radiologist. ...
- Chief executive officer (CEO) ...
- Chief financial officer (CFO) ...
- Principal software architect. ...
- Obstetrics and gynecology physician. ...
- Emergency medicine physician. ...
- Psychiatrist. ...
- Physician.
- Investment banker.
- Certified public accountant.
- Entrepreneur.
- Day trader.
- Real estate agent.
- Engineer.
- Lawyer.
- Actuary.
Is $100,000 still a good salary? ›
Is $100K a good salary? In almost every case, yes. It's well above the poverty line as well as the American median income for both individuals and smaller families. Even in the face of rising inflation, a $100,000 annual income can typically afford a comfortable lifestyle and financial stability.
How much is 500k a year hourly? ›If you make $ 500,000 per week, your hourly salary would be $ 12,500. This result is obtained by multiplying your base salary by the amount of hours, week, and months you work in a year, assuming you work 40 hours a week.
Who is the richest writer in the world? ›1. J.K. Rowling. British author Joanne Rowling, also known as J.K. Rowling, is the richest author in the world with a net worth of $1 billion. Rowling is the author of the hit children's fantasy series "Harry Potter." The seven-volume series sold over 600 million copies and has been translated into 84 languages.
Can one book make you a millionaire? ›Writing a novel can make you rich, but only a small percentage of writers get really rich from their writing. Most authors do not survive on royalties from book sales alone. Many retain other jobs to make ends meet. But every now and then, a writer will break through to earn big money.
What percentage of writers are successful? ›Within the book publishing industry, it is agreed that the odds of an author getting their work published stands between 1% and 2%. Despite this low number, more than 95% of manuscripts received by publishers and agents are below the level the standard required.
What kind of writing makes money? ›Authoring articles for magazines, writing compelling marketing descriptions for products, and self-publishing fiction; these are all ways you can turn your words into positive growth in your bank account. We've got 10 tips for how to make money by writing online and offline below.
Can you make a living out of writing? ›Making a living writing is possible. But in order to do this, we first have to dispel the most common myths about this profession: Becoming a full-time writer won't happen quickly (and if it does, you're lucky). Becoming a full-time writer won't happen because you produce a one-hit wonder.
How much does the highest paid writer make? ›- 1 – James Patterson: $86 million (2018) ...
- 2 – JK Rowling: $54 million (2018) ...
- 3 – Stephen King: $27 million (2018) ...
- 4 – John Grisham: $21 million (2018) ...
- 5 – Jeff Kinney: $18.5 million (2018) ...
- 6 – Dan Brown: $18.5 million (2018) ...
- 7 – Michael Wolff: $13 million (2018)
Absolutely! That's one of the best parts about being a freelance writer is that it doesn't take a lot of professional experience or formal education to make money writing. In fact, if you have the writing chops, you can start making good money fast even if you've never had a client before.
Where can I write stories and get paid? ›- Reader's Digest.
- Boulevard.
- The People's Friend.
- The Sun Magazine.
- The Barefoot Writer.
- Fireside Magazine.
- One Story.
- Take a Break.
How do writers survive? ›
Set a schedule and stick to it. Wake up at the same time every day and begin your writing routine. Keep a chart of daily goals and write often. Don't forget to check in on your income sources, because you don't want to wake up one day to find out that you don't have enough earnings to pay rent.
How many writers actually make a living? ›The top 2% or so of authors make a good living and the most successful authors – including self-published authors – make a tremendous amount of money.” Greenfield's co-author, professor Dana Weinberg, agreed that “The question of money is a tricky one. Publishing a book for sale is a matter of both art and commerce.
How can I make money writing with no experience? ›- Rewrite local small-business websites. ...
- Find abandoned business blogs. ...
- Write business emails. ...
- Create a newsletter or brochure. ...
- Report articles for local news media. ...
- Write for local magazines. ...
- Turn your former employer into a client. ...
- Write for local marketing agencies.
1. J.K. Rowling. British author Joanne Rowling, also known as J.K. Rowling, is the richest author in the world with a net worth of $1 billion. Rowling is the author of the hit children's fantasy series "Harry Potter." The seven-volume series sold over 600 million copies and has been translated into 84 languages.
Can I become a millionaire writer? ›Almost every writer hopes to become a best-selling millionaire someday. However, the cold, hard fact is that writing is not the easiest industry to become rich in. There are many talented writers who can barely make ends meet, while there are many good writers who become best-selling authors.
Who is the richest author in the US? ›- Jeffrey Archer – $195 Million.
- John Grisham – $220 Million.
- Nigel Blackwell – $292.5 Million.
- Barbara Taylor Bradford – $300 Million.
- Danielle Steel – $310 Million.
- Nora Roberts – $390 Million.
- Stephen King – $400 Million.
- James Patterson – $560 Million.
Well, it's going to take consistency, dedication, and patience. Still, it's possible to make six figures as a freelance writer. And to help reach this goal, you'll need to utilize these tips.
How much do beginner writers make a year? ›While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $52,000 and as low as $23,500, the majority of Entry Level Content Writer salaries currently range between $40,000 (25th percentile) to $47,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $52,000 annually across the United States.