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Writers and Authors
Originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material.
Other titles employers use
Advertisement Agency Copywriter (Ad Agency Copywriter) · Advertising Associate · Advertising Copywriter · Advertising Writer · Communications Specialist · Copywriter · Freelance Copywriter · Promotion Writer
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to creative, persuading and organizing work.
- Creative
- Making, designing, writing, or performing without one set answer
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Time Management
Subjects to know
- English Language
- Sales and Marketing
- Communications and Media
- Customer and Personal Service
- Computers and Electronics
Useful strengths
- Written Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Fluency of Ideas
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.2 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 2.0 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.5 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 2.3 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A four-year degree 47%
- A certificate or some college 35%
- A two-year degree 18%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Video creation and editing software
- Web page creation and editing software
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software
- Web platform development software
- Document management software
- Word processing software
- Office suite software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 25,500
- Job openings each year
- 2,530
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 4.9%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 25,500 | 2,530 | 4.9% |
| New York | 12,140 | 60 | 4.8% |
| Florida | 7,790 | 790 | 10.7% |
| Texas | 7,130 | 740 | 14.1% |
| North Carolina | 6,600 | 680 | 13.2% |
| Illinois | 6,230 | 600 | — |
| Washington | 6,030 | 740 | 21.3% |
| Virginia | 4,730 | 470 | 5.8% |
| New Jersey | 4,320 | 420 | 1.9% |
| Colorado | 4,260 | 440 | 10.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 4,080 | 400 | 3.8% |
| Connecticut | 3,970 | 410 | 10.9% |
| Georgia | 3,570 | 360 | 8.8% |
| Arizona | 3,140 | 320 | 10.2% |
| Ohio | 3,090 | 300 | −1.0% |
| Minnesota | 2,920 | 290 | 2.5% |
| Tennessee | 2,710 | 270 | 5.4% |
| Utah | 2,600 | 270 | 16.6% |
| Oregon | 2,370 | 240 | 8.7% |
| Maryland | 2,360 | 240 | 7.8% |
| District of Columbia | 2,130 | 200 | −8.2% |
| Indiana | 2,070 | 210 | 3.5% |
| Missouri | 2,060 | 200 | 4.6% |
| Michigan | 1,850 | 180 | — |
| Wisconsin | 1,850 | 190 | 8.8% |
| Alabama | 1,630 | 160 | 3.2% |
| South Carolina | 1,310 | 140 | 15.9% |
| Puerto Rico | 1,290 | 140 | 19.4% |
| Iowa | 1,080 | 110 | 8.0% |
| Massachusetts | 1,080 | 110 | 6.9% |
| Rhode Island | 1,020 | 100 | 7.4% |
| Oklahoma | 890 | 90 | 4.7% |
| Kentucky | 690 | 70 | 1.5% |
| Nebraska | 690 | 70 | 6.2% |
| Idaho | 670 | 70 | 15.5% |
| Arkansas | 650 | 70 | 10.2% |
| Louisiana | 610 | 60 | — |
| Vermont | 610 | 60 | 10.9% |
| Mississippi | 580 | 60 | 13.7% |
| Nevada | 440 | 50 | 18.9% |
| Kansas | 380 | 40 | −2.6% |
| Maine | 340 | 30 | — |
| Montana | 340 | 40 | 9.7% |
| West Virginia | 310 | 30 | 10.7% |
| North Dakota | 240 | 20 | — |
| New Mexico | 200 | 20 | 17.6% |
| South Dakota | 140 | 10 | — |
| Delaware | 100 | 10 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Southern New Hampshire University
- Degrees each year
- 580
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $37,000
California State University-Fullerton
- Degrees each year
- 746
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
University of California-Santa Barbara
- Degrees each year
- 653
- Admit rate
- 28%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Arizona State University Digital Immersion
- Degrees each year
- 520
- Admit rate
- 64%
- Annual cost after aid
- —
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Degrees each year
- 545
- Admit rate
- 19%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
Ohio State University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 557
- Admit rate
- 51%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
James Madison University
- Degrees each year
- 513
- Admit rate
- 76%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
University of Southern California
- Degrees each year
- 557
- Admit rate
- 10%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
Compare every college offering rhetoric and composition/writing studies