Writers
Overview
Introduction
Writers express, edit, promote, and interpret ideas and facts in written form for books, magazines, trade journals, newspapers, company newsletters, radio and television broadcasts, and advertisements. They develop fiction and nonfiction ideas for plays, novels, poems, and other related works; report, analyze, and interpret facts, events, and personalities; review art, music, film, drama, and other artistic presentations; and persuade the general public to choose or favor certain goods, services, and personalities. There are approxi...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
In May 2019, median annual earnings for salaried writers and authors were $63,200 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $33,660, while the highest paid 10 percent earned $122,450 or more. Some specialties pay better than others. For example, writers who work in newspaper, periodical, directory, and book publishing earned mean annual sal...
Work Environment
Working conditions vary for writers. Their workweek usually runs 35 to 40 hours, but many writers work overtime. A publication that is issued frequently has more deadlines closer together, creating greater pressures to meet them. The work is especially hectic on newspapers and at broadcasting companies, which operate seven days a week. Writers often work nights and weekends to meet deadlines or...
Outlook
The employment of writers is expected to decline through 2029, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Competition for writing jobs has been and will continue to be competitive, but certain fields will offer better opportunities than other areas. The growth of online publishing on company Web sites and other online services will create a demand for many talented writers. The DOL says t...
