Salary data
Copywriter Salary (May 2025 BLS Data)
The median annual pay for writers and authors in the US is $76,910, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025); the top 10% earn more than $139,870. BLS counts copywriters with writers and authors. This page shows that occupation's pay range and state medians from the May 2025 survey, and how agency, in-house and freelance work differ.
Key takeaways
- The median annual pay for writers and authors in the US is $76,910, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025); the top 10% earn more than $139,870.
- BLS counts copywriters with writers and authors (27-3043), so the figures are a rough guide for advertising and marketing copywriters specifically.
- Junior copywriters usually earn between the 10th and 25th percentile of the writers and authors range and move up with a portfolio of work that ran.
- BLS wage data covers employed writers only, so freelance copywriter income isn't in these figures.
- Conversion, product and UX writing often pay more than general content writing at the same level.
How much does a copywriter make?
The median annual pay for writers and authors in the US is $76,910. The middle half earn between $58,230 and $101,950, and the top 10% earn more than $139,870. About 47,940 people work in this occupation.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Occupation 27-3043.
The pay range for writers and authors
Read the range, not only the median. Half of everyone in the group earns between the 25th and 75th percentile.
| Pay level | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $44,310 |
| 25th percentile | $58,230 |
| Median | $76,910 |
| 75th percentile | $101,950 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $139,870 |
| Mean (average) | $86,090 |
US, all industries. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
Which BLS figure covers copywriter roles?
Copywriters are counted in writers and authors (27-3043), alongside other kinds of writer. It’s the closest BLS figure, but a rough one for advertising and marketing copywriters specifically. The figures cover employees only; BLS’s wage survey leaves out the self-employed, and many copywriters freelance. Senior copywriters and associate creative directors usually sit in the upper part of the range; creative directors are counted with art directors, on the creative director salary page.
What affects copywriter pay?
Level and scope move pay more than anything else. After that:
- Agency or in-house: big agencies and brand in-house teams pay differently; compare the specific offer, not the label.
- Specialism: conversion, product and UX writing often pay more than general content writing.
- Portfolio: work that ran, for brands people know, moves pay more than years of experience.
- City: advertising work clusters in a few metros, and pay follows.
Copywriter salary by state
The median for writers and authors varies a lot by state, mostly with the cost of living and where the employers are. The table runs from highest to lowest.
| State | Median pay |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $129,300 |
| Maryland | $104,330 |
| Connecticut | $98,460 |
| Vermont | $94,430 |
| Louisiana | $89,520 |
| California | $86,480 |
| Washington | $85,700 |
| Massachusetts | $85,260 |
| Virginia | $85,000 |
| New Jersey | $81,590 |
| Oregon | $80,540 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,410 |
| Colorado | $76,830 |
| Indiana | $75,820 |
| Georgia | $74,710 |
| Minnesota | $72,810 |
| New Hampshire | $71,830 |
| Rhode Island | $70,190 |
| Texas | $69,990 |
| Illinois | $68,220 |
| Florida | $68,080 |
| Alabama | $66,950 |
| Ohio | $65,930 |
| Kansas | $65,840 |
| Nebraska | $65,470 |
| Utah | $64,530 |
| West Virginia | $64,410 |
| Wisconsin | $64,370 |
| Nevada | $63,910 |
| North Carolina | $63,660 |
| Iowa | $61,010 |
| Tennessee | $58,870 |
| Oklahoma | $58,770 |
| Missouri | $58,140 |
| South Dakota | $56,700 |
| Idaho | $56,360 |
| Arizona | $55,990 |
| Mississippi | $54,180 |
| South Carolina | $51,920 |
| North Dakota | $50,860 |
| Wyoming | $49,650 |
| Kentucky | $48,780 |
| Arkansas | $47,970 |
Highest first. States BLS doesn't publish a median for are left out. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
What is the average copywriter salary, and what do you earn starting out?
The median is the better guide to a typical copywriter salary than the average. The table above shows both: the mean (average) is pulled up by the highest earners, so it usually sits above the median. For a starting salary, look at the bottom two rows of the range: people new to the field usually earn between the 10th and 25th percentile, and move toward the median as they take on more scope.
To turn an annual figure into a monthly one, divide by 12. For an hourly equivalent, divide by about 2,080, which is 40 hours a week for 52 weeks.
How to use this in a salary negotiation
Use the range to anchor, not to argue. Find where the role sits: an entry-level coordinator belongs near the 25th percentile, a senior lead running a team and budget near the 75th or above. Then check the posting, since a growing number of states require employers to publish a pay range. If the posting’s range and the BLS range disagree, the posting wins: it’s the budget for this job. The BLS figure is still useful when there’s no range at all, or when you’re asked for your number first. Our salary negotiation guide covers what to say and when. Plenty of people dread this part. A range you can point to turns it into a calm, practical exchange, so write your number down now and say it aloud once or twice in your own words.
FAQ
Do freelance copywriters earn more than employed ones?
There’s no BLS comparison, because the wage survey doesn’t cover the self-employed. Freelance income depends on rates and how steady the work is.
Is copywriting a well-paid job?
It ranges widely. Senior copywriters at large agencies and brands earn well; entry-level and content-mill work pays much less. The spread in the table reflects that.
What’s the path from copywriter to creative director?
Usually senior copywriter, then associate creative director, then creative director, built on a portfolio of work that ran.
How much does a junior copywriter make?
Junior copywriters usually sit near the bottom of the range above, between the 10th and 25th percentile. The quickest way up is a portfolio of work that actually ran, which is what moves you to mid-level and senior titles. How to become a copywriter covers building it.
Do copywriters earn more than content writers?
BLS counts both with writers and authors, so there’s no official split. In practice, copywriting tied to sales and conversion is usually easier to price than general content writing, which is why it often pays more at the same level.