Occupation · SOC 27-3043
Writers and Authors
Originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material.
Median wage
$72,270
$41,080–$133,680
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
47,800
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
1,332 mapped
Core skills
WritingReading ComprehensionSpeakingActive ListeningTime ManagementCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessPersuasionCoordinationActive LearningJudgment and Decision MakingService OrientationMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingNegotiationInstructingLearning StrategiesManagement of Personnel ResourcesSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisTechnology DesignProgrammingQuality Control AnalysisOperations AnalysisMathematicsScienceManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesTroubleshootingRepairingOperations MonitoringOperation and ControlInstallationEquipment SelectionEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Sales and MarketingCommunications and MediaCustomer and Personal ServiceComputers and ElectronicsMathematicsAdministrativeAdministration and ManagementSociology and AnthropologyPsychologyTelecommunicationsPersonnel and Human ResourcesDesignFine ArtsLaw and GovernmentEconomics and AccountingEducation and TrainingProduction and ProcessingPublic Safety and SecurityPhilosophy and TheologyGeographyHistory and ArcheologyForeign LanguageTransportationMechanicalTherapy and CounselingFood ProductionMedicine and DentistryEngineering and TechnologyPhysicsChemistryBiology
Technology & tools
Adobe AcrobatAdobe After EffectsAdobe Creative Cloud softwareAdobe DreamweaverAdobe IllustratorAdobe InDesignAdobe PersuasionAdobe PhotoshopAdobe Premiere ProApple Final Cut ProAsanaAvid Technology Media ComposerBlackbaud The Raiser's EdgeCampaign MonitorChatbot softwareCorel PresentationDrupalEkoFacebookFigmaFileMaker ProFlipgridGoogle AdsGoogle AnalyticsGoogle DocsGoogle DriveGoogle SlidesGoogle Workspace softwareHubSpot softwareHypertext markup language HTMLKapwingLinkedInLoomMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft SharePoint
Representative tasks
Getting InformationCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationSelling or Influencing OthersCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesThinking CreativelyEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesDeveloping and Building TeamsWorking with ComputersScheduling Work and ActivitiesGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsTraining and Teaching OthersCoaching and Developing OthersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleProcessing InformationPerforming Administrative ActivitiesAssisting and Caring for OthersDocumenting/Recording InformationPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsAnalyzing Data or InformationMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesStaffing Organizational UnitsOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationPerforming General Physical ActivitiesHandling and Moving ObjectsRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsControlling Machines and ProcessesDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Advertising copy drafts — produce under direct supervision using established brand guidelines and client briefs in an agency setting.Language and tone — adjust basic message style following senior writer guidance across print and digital media formats.Client draft presentations — assist in preparing and organizing materials for review meetings under the direction of a creative director.Product and campaign details — gather and document information from client intake discussions to support copy development.Consumer and market research — locate and summarize advertising trend reports and survey data to inform entry-level copy assignments.Sales letters and promotional materials — write straightforward informational pieces following approved templates and style guides.Document management software — use to organize, version-control, and submit drafts within a collaborative agency workflow.Desktop publishing software — apply basic formatting and layout principles to prepare copy for review and client presentation.Active listening skills — apply during client briefings and team meetings to accurately capture requirements and feedback.Time management practices — follow assigned deadlines and task schedules across concurrent entry-level writing projects.
developing
Advertising campaigns — develop cohesive copy concepts for mid-size clients with reduced oversight, coordinating with art directors on visual-verbal alignment.Message tone and register — adapt language independently across multiple platforms including digital, broadcast, and print media channels.Client draft presentations — prepare and deliver polished draft reviews, incorporating feedback and proposing revisions during client meetings.Advertising themes and copy changes — discuss and negotiate adjustments directly with clients, translating feedback into revised campaign messaging.Market research synthesis — independently analyze consumer surveys and competitive advertising trends to justify and refine copy strategy.Articles, bulletins, and speeches — produce a range of informative and promotional content formats on deadline with minimal editorial intervention.Presentation software and CRM tools — use to build client-facing decks and track account communication histories across active campaigns.Web page creation and editing software — apply to update and refine copy within content management systems for live digital campaigns.Persuasion techniques — employ evidence-based rhetorical strategies to strengthen promotional messaging for assigned product categories.Cross-functional coordination — collaborate routinely with designers, account managers, and media planners to deliver integrated campaign materials.
proficient
Integrated advertising campaigns — lead end-to-end concept development for diverse clients, independently determining the most effective messaging strategy in collaboration with creative directors.Multi-channel tone calibration — autonomously vary voice, style, and complexity across broadcast, social, digital, and print environments to match audience and medium.High-stakes client presentations — present fully developed creative concepts and strategic rationale directly to senior client stakeholders, managing questions and objections.Complex copy revision cycles — manage iterative client feedback on advertising themes and methods, making strategic decisions about which changes strengthen campaign integrity.Competitive landscape analysis — conduct and synthesize advanced consumer behavior research and advertising trend data to drive original campaign positioning.Full-range promotional content — independently author speeches, executive communications, long-form articles, and campaign copy across industries with consistent quality.Video creation and graphics software — direct and review multimedia content production, providing copy and narrative frameworks for visual storytelling teams.Critical judgment on content strategy — evaluate competing creative approaches for effectiveness, originality, and brand alignment before client submission.Social perceptiveness in client relations — read unstated client concerns and shifting stakeholder priorities to proactively recalibrate messaging strategy.Cloud-based collaboration platforms — orchestrate real-time content workflows across remote creative teams, maintaining consistency and version integrity on complex accounts.
advanced
Agency-wide creative direction — set overarching messaging philosophy and content standards that guide writers and creatives across all client portfolios.Campaign strategy at organizational scale — lead the development of multi-market advertising campaigns, defining positioning, tone architecture, and channel strategy for major accounts.Executive client counsel — advise C-suite clients on advertising themes, brand narrative, and communication methods, shaping long-term marketing investments.Talent development and editorial mentorship — coach and evaluate emerging and developing writers through structured feedback, progressive assignments, and performance frameworks.Thought leadership content — author industry-facing articles, conference presentations, and white papers that establish organizational authority in advertising and communications.Cross-disciplinary creative leadership — align copywriting, design, media planning, and account management teams around a unified campaign vision and execution standard.Innovation culture cultivation — champion experimental formats, emerging platforms, and new storytelling technologies to keep the organization at the forefront of the advertising industry.Complex problem solving at scale — resolve systemic creative or strategic challenges across simultaneous high-value accounts, making judgment calls that affect organizational reputation.Market intelligence and forecasting — interpret macroeconomic consumer trends and media landscape shifts to guide long-range content and campaign investment decisions.Organizational process design — establish agency-wide workflows, editorial governance standards, and quality benchmarks that scale writing quality across all business units.
Also known as
42 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Advertisement Agency Copywriter (Ad Agency Copywriter)Advertisement Copywriter (Ad Copywriter)Advertisement Writer (Ad Writer)Advertising AssociateAdvertising CopywriterAdvertising SpecialistAdvertising WriterArticle WriterAuthorBiographerBlurb WriterBusiness WriterCommunications SpecialistContent CreatorContent DeveloperContent WriterCopywriterCreative CopywriterCurriculum WriterDigital Content CreatorDigital CopywriterFreelance CopywriterFreelance WriterLyricistMarketing CopywriterMarketing WriterNovelistOnline Content DeveloperPlaywrightPoetProgram WriterPromotion WriterRadio ScriptwriterScreenwriterSearch Engine Optimization Copywriter (SEO Copywriter)Short Story WriterSong LyricistSpecification WriterTelevision WriterVerse Writer