Copywriter Salary in United States

Introduction

Copywriter writes, proofreads and edits copy brochures, print and other documents. Also manages written material to format properly with the web design. Being a Copywriter may assist in estimating production costs, overseeing work done by external suppliers, and preparing the marketing program. May require a bachelor’s degree. Additionally, Copywriter typically reports to a supervisor or manager. The Copywriter works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Work is closely managed. To be a Copywriter typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.

How Much Does a Copywriter Make in US?

  The average salary for a Copywriter in US is $69,000. The average additional cash compensation for a Copywriter in US is $4,960. The average total compensation for a Copywriter in US is $73,960. Copywriter salaries are based on responses gathered by Built In from anonymous Copywriter employees in US.

Different types of copywriters

Agency copywriters: They work at marketing agencies.
Corporate copywriters: They handle all the internal copywriting for large companies.
Freelance copywriters: They pimp their words out for money to anyone who needs them.

Average base salary

$53,492

Top-level copywriter earnings begin at:

$64.22per hour

$133,580per year

Senior-level copywriter earnings begin at:

$48.60per hour

$101,080per year

Mid-level copywriter earnings begin at:

$33.42per hour

$69,510per year

Junior-level copywriter earnings begin at:

$23.74per hour

$49,390per year

Average Hourly Wage in United States

The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in United States is 32 USD. This means that the average CopyWriter in United States earns approximately 32 USD for every worked hour.

Hourly Wage = Annual Salary ÷ ( 52 x 5 x 8 )

The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fix amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. 

To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. 

The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. 

Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.

Employment

Many copywriters are employed in marketing departments, advertising agencies, public relations firms, copywriting agencies, or are self-employed as freelancers, where clients range from small to large companies.

• Advertising agencies usually hire copywriters as part of a creative team, in which they are partnered with art directors or creative directors. The copywriter writes a copy or script for an advertisement, based largely on information obtained from a client. The art director is responsible for visual aspects of the advertisement and, particularly in the case of print work, may oversee production. Either member of the team can come up with the overall idea (typically referred to as the concept) and the process of collaboration often improves the work. Some agencies specialize in servicing a particular industry or sector.^[2]
• Copywriting agencies combine copywriting with a range of editorial and associated services that may include positioning and messaging consulting, social media, search engine optimization, developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading, fact checking, speechwriting and page layout. Some agencies employ in-house copywriters, while others use external contractors or freelancers.
• Digital marketing agencies commonly include copywriters, whether freelance or employees, that focus specifically on digital communication. Sometimes the work of a copywriter will overlap with a content writer as they’ll need to write social media advertisements, Google advertisements, online landing pages, and email copy that is persuasive. This new wave of copywriting born of the digital era has made the discipline more accessible. But not without a downside, as globalization has meant some copywriting work has been devalued due to the ease of finding skilled copywriters working at different rates.

Top companies for Copywriters in United States

The median, the maximum, the minimum, and the range

Salary Range

CopyWriter salaries in United States range from 35,100 USD per year (minimum salary) to 103,000 USD per year (maximum salary).

Median Salary

The median salary is 64,800 USD per year, which means that half (50%) of people working as CopyWriter(s) are earning less than 64,800 USD while the other half are earning more than 64,800 USD. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.

Percentiles

Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of CopyWriter(s) are earning less than 45,000 USD while 75% of them are earning more than 45,000 USD. Also from the diagram, 75% of CopyWriter(s) are earning less than 80,700 USD while 25% are earning more than 80,700 USD.

What is the difference between the median and the average salary?

Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. 

Salary Comparison By Gender

Male CopyWriter employees in the United States earns 5% less than their female counterparts on average.

Salary Comparison by Years of Experience

The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher your wage. 

Salary Comparison By Education

When the education level is High School, the average salary of a CopyWriter is 48,100 USD per year. 

While someone with a Certificate or Diploma gets a salary of 54,900 USD per year, 14% more than someone having a High School degree.

A Bachelor’s Degree gets its holder an average salary of 77,400 USD per year, 41% more than someone with a Certificate or Diploma.

Professionals who hold a Master’s Degree are rewarded with an average salary of 93,800 USD per year, 21% more than someone with Bachelor’s Degree.

Average salary change by experience

Highest paying cities

Bonus and Incentive Rates in United States

A CopyWriter is considered to be a low bonus-based job due to the generally limited involvement in direct revenue generation, with exceptions of course. The people who get the highest bonuses are usually somehow involved in the revenue generation cycle.

71% of surveyed staff reported that they haven’t received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 29% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.

Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 1% to 3% of their annual salary.

29

71%

How do copywriter salaries compare to similar careers?

Copywriters earn 11% more than similar careers in the United States.

Conclusion

Copywriting is the act or occupation of writing text for the purpose of advertising or other forms of marketing. The product, called copy or sales copy, is written content that aims to increase brand awareness and ultimately persuade a person or group to take a particular action 

Copywriters helpscreate billboards, brochures, catalogs, jingle lyrics, magazine and newspaper advertisements, sales letters and other direct mail, scripts for television or radio commercials, taglines, white papers, website and social media posts, and other marketing communications.