Copywriter Salary Range: Entry Level to Successful Freelancer

Copywriter Salary Range: Entry Level to Successful Freelancer

Copywriter Salaries

“How much do copywriters make?”

Good question. Normally anything you hear is self-reported, and varies by a wide range. (Example: some freelance copywriters make $1,000,000+ per year, and others make $20,000/year).

But that’s WAY too broad. So we decided to put on our “data collection” hats and figure out what a copywriter actually makes.

The most readily-available data we were able to scrape came from job listings for copywriters.

There’s several 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.

So….let’s get started investigating how much copywriters make!

AGENCY & CORPORATE COPYWRITER SALARIES (YEARLY):

This is the best data we have, because we can accurately collect job listing salary data. Below is a huge list of salaries for agency and corporate copywriters. The list is sortable by Salary, Position, and Company:

Salary $ Company Post Source
$30,663 Zulily Copywriter [link]
$65,499 FCB Copywriter [link]
$67,738 Digitas Copywriter [link]
$94,097 Saatchi & Saatchi Copywriter [link]
$108,660 Goodby, Silverstein & Partners Copywriter [link]
$70,167 Ogilvy & Mather Copywriter [link]
$74,917 Crispin Porter Copywriter [link]
$89,822 J. Walter Thompson Worldwide Copywriter [link]
$85,504 FCB Senior Copywriter [link]
$92,192 Leo Burnett Senior Copywriter [link]
$67,790 Leo Burnett Copywriter [link]
$127,034 AKQA Senior Copywriter [link]
$56,856 Macy’s Copywriter [link]
$74,845 AKQA Copywriter [link]
$63,494 Grey Group Copywriter [link]
$134,751 BBH Global Copywriter [link]
$100,903 Publicis Senior Copywriter [link]
$76,213 The CDM Group Senior Copywriter [link]
$62,850 Integer Group Copywriter [link]
$87,933 Deutsch Copywriter [link]
$65,028 RAPP Copywriter [link]
$78,367 Young & Rubicam Copywriter [link]
$46,541 mcgarrybowen Junior Copywriter [link]
$92,640 AbelsonTaylor Senior CopyWriter [link]
$70,281 Razorfish Copywriter [link]
$74,759 R/GA Copywriter [link]
$88,056 Dieste Copywriter [link]
$48,868 BBDO Junior Copywriter [link]
$56,222 LAPTV Copywriter/Programmer [link]
$98,920 Havas Worldwide Senior CopyWriter [link]
$89,642 Digitas Senior CopyWriter [link]
$60,805 The CDM Group Copywriter [link]
$49,895 TracyLocke Copywriter [link]
$53,729 Nordstrom Copywriter [link]
$58,583 Arnold Worldwide Copywriter [link]
$77,808 DDB New York Copywriter [link]
$71,579 TBWA Worldwide Copywriter [link]
$51,509 Bromley Communications Copywriter [link]
$46,108 FCB Junior Copywriter [link]
$55,763 R/GA Junior Copywriter [link]
$103,856 Saatchi & Saatchi Senior CopyWriter [link]
$106,231 Razorfish Senior CopyWriter [link]
$108,321 Crispin Porter Senior CopyWriter [link]
$81,810 Dieste Senior CopyWriter [link]
$75,351 RPA Copywriter [link]
$38,673 Red Ventures Copywriter [link]
$74,178 Mullen Copywriter [link]
$64,601 McCann Erickson Copywriter [link]
$120,864 BBDO Copywriter [link]
$62,576 mcgarrybowen Copywriter [link]
$74,270 Hill Holliday Copywriter [link]
$62,377 Wieden And Kennedy Copywriter [link]
$71,639 LatinWorks Copywriter [link]
$44,129 RAPP Junior Copywriter [link]
$91,121 The Wunderman Network Senior CopyWriter [link]
$98,863 RAPP Senior CopyWriter [link]
$77,994 Arc Worldwide Senior CopyWriter [link]
$96,295 Mullen Senior CopyWriter [link]
$88,864 Harrison and Star Senior CopyWriter [link]
$64,730 The Vidal Partnership Senior CopyWriter [link]
$50,254 DigitasLBi Associate Copywriter [link]
$50,434 AKQA Associate Copywriter [link]
$54,082 FindLaw Copywriter [link]
$65,149 MRM//McCann Copywriter [link]
$68,213 DigitasLBi Copywriter [link]
$63,960 The Wunderman Network Copywriter [link]
$50,514 Royall & Company Copywriter [link]
$35,490 Wayfair Copywriter [link]
$33,571 Backcountry.com Copywriter [link]
$63,690 The Richards Group Copywriter [link]
$50,472 Hill Holliday Junior Copywriter [link]
$86,631 Organic Senior CopyWriter [link]
$78,489 VaynerMedia Senior CopyWriter [link]
$98,483 Young & Rubicam Senior CopyWriter [link]
$87,025 Sudler & Hennessey Senior CopyWriter [link]
$25,264 SoftRock Copywriter [link]
$62,097 Havas Worldwide Copywriter [link]
$72,042 TBWA\Chiat\Day Copywriter [link]
$52,258 VML Copywriter [link]
$46,250 Barkley Copywriter [link]
$51,561 Guitar Center Copywriter [link]
$46,446 VaynerMedia Copywriter [link]
$55,224 Moxie Copywriter [link]
$44,282 Circuit City Copywriter [link]
$59,484 Alcone Marketing Copywriter [link]
$57,595 Epsilon Copywriter [link]
$56,274 Arc Worldwide Copywriter [link]
$77,000 Kirshenbaum Bond Senecal + Partners Copywriter [link]
$65,730 Meredith Xcelerated Marketing Copywriter [link]
$55,631 Geometry Global Copywriter [link]
$72,289 Publicis Copywriter [link]
$60,765 López Negrete Copywriter [link]
$56,781 Zimmerman Advertising Copywriter [link]
$69,206 DDB Chicago Copywriter [link]
$71,271 GSW Marketing & Advertising Copywriter [link]
$56,770 VSA Partners Copywriter [link]
$50,197 The Vidal Partnership Copywriter [link]
$78,404 JOHANNES LEONARDO Copywriter [link]
$42,277 Conill Copywriter [link]
$40,172 AdAsia Communications Copywriter [link]
$94,518 Dieste Technical Copywriter [link]
$49,890 Leo Burnett Junior Copywriter [link]
$31,914 Zimmerman Advertising Junior Copywriter [link]
$51,850 FCB Health Junior Copywriter [link]
$50,475 Kirshenbaum Bond Senecal + Partners Junior Copywriter [link]
$46,490 Dieste Junior Copywriter [link]
$106,284 DDB New York Senior CopyWriter [link]
$108,390 OgilvyOne Senior CopyWriter [link]
$112,744 J. Walter Thompson Worldwide Senior CopyWriter [link]
$79,125 Team Detroit Senior CopyWriter [link]
$69,341 Macy’s Senior CopyWriter [link]
$94,710 R/GA Senior CopyWriter [link]
$120,775 TBWA\Chiat\Day Senior CopyWriter [link]
$73,231 VML Senior CopyWriter [link]
$82,820 Geometry Global Senior CopyWriter [link]
$89,609 Ogilvy CommonHealth Senior CopyWriter [link]
$82,583 Integer Group Senior CopyWriter [link]
$49,375 VaynerMedia Associate Copywriter [link]
$39,041 Tta Copywriter/Translator [link]
$30,407 Web.com Inc Copywriter [link]
$47,400 QVC Copywriter [link]
$71,041 Avon Products Copywriter [link]
$58,058 Fab.com Copywriter [link]
$41,104 Vente-Privee.com Copywriter [link]
$65,987 Bloomingdale’s Copywriter [link]
$64,320 Electronic Arts Copywriter [link]
$78,056 Shutterfly Copywriter [link]
$46,855 Doner Copywriter [link]
$50,132 Staples Copywriter [link]
$73,917 Williams-Sonoma Copywriter [link]
$56,089 TMP Worldwide Copywriter [link]
$85,333 C.C. Filson Copywriter [link]
$62,234 SK+G Copywriter [link]
$54,952 The Marketing Arm Copywriter [link]
$43,500 Rue La La Copywriter [link]
$48,500 Pure Romance Copywriter [link]
$38,694 RPM Advertising Copywriter [link]
$75,265 Saatchi & Saatchi Copywriter [link]
$60,894 Entree Health Copywriter [link]
$45,215 Bluefly Copywriter [link]
$71,154 DiMassimo Goldstein Copywriter [link]
$37,072 Bon-Ton Stores Copywriter [link]
$44,907 Aisle Rocket Studios Copywriter [link]
$65,138 Saks Fifth Avenue Copywriter [link]
$71,597 Energy BBDO Copywriter [link]
$39,372 Adcetera Copywriter [link]
$61,378 GlobalHue Copywriter [link]
$61,644 Colle+McVoy Copywriter [link]
$29,827 Virtucom Group Copywriter [link]
$52,157 EVB Inc Copywriter [link]
$106,940 Team One Copywriter [link]
$58,268 AgencyRx Copywriter [link]
$64,491 Harrison and Star Copywriter [link]
$74,405 Sapient Copywriter [link]
$93,838 kirshenbaum bond Copywriter [link]
$41,855 Burlington Stores Copywriter [link]
$76,769 AD AMERICAS Copywriter [link]
$53,878 Nashimoto Marketing Director/Copywriter [link]
$55,267 Publicis Junior Copywriter [link]
$54,441 Saatchi & Saatchi Junior Copywriter [link]
$45,845 J. Walter Thompson Worldwide Junior Copywriter [link]
$45,812 Arnold Worldwide Junior Copywriter [link]
$53,653 Mullen Junior Copywriter [link]
$43,828 Arc Worldwide Junior Copywriter [link]
$43,499 Integer Group Junior Copywriter [link]
$40,901 Slingshot, LLC Junior Copywriter [link]
$35,825 Team Detroit Junior Copywriter [link]
$45,921 Young & Rubicam Junior Copywriter [link]
$81,714 Critical Mass Senior CopyWriter [link]
$81,849 Huge Senior CopyWriter [link]
$82,728 Ryan Partnership Senior CopyWriter [link]
$62,333 REI Senior CopyWriter [link]
$101,900 C-K Senior CopyWriter [link]
$115,625 BBDO Senior CopyWriter [link]
$66,911 Momentum Worldwide Senior CopyWriter [link]
$83,745 Campbell Ewald Senior CopyWriter [link]
$80,354 AgencyRx Senior CopyWriter [link]
$96,190 360i Senior CopyWriter [link]
$86,026 López Negrete Senior CopyWriter [link]
$136,105 Deutsch Senior CopyWriter [link]
$89,286 GlobalHue Senior CopyWriter [link]
$109,598 Tribal DDB Senior CopyWriter [link]
$68,572 Bromley Communications Senior CopyWriter [link]
$86,318 Accentmarketing Senior CopyWriter [link]
$47,332 Digitas Associate Copywriter [link]
$44,526 Eberle Communications Group Associate Copywriter [link]
$53,293 LatinWorks Copywriter/Technical Writer [link]
$32,843 TechTarget Marketing Copywriter [link]
$43,045 hibu Copywriter [link]
$38,672 Sears Copywriter [link]
$65,586 Thomson Reuters Copywriter [link]
$63,568 Expedia Copywriter [link]
$82,089 Havas Copywriter [link]
$45,420 Groupon Copywriter [link]
$39,725 Agora – MD Copywriter [link]
$96,115 Mattel Copywriter [link]
$39,149 Dillard’s Copywriter [link]
$86,597 Amazon.com Copywriter [link]
$57,496 SapientNitro Copywriter [link]
$91,088 MEplusYOU Copywriter [link]
$71,067 Esurance Copywriter [link]
$35,097 MBS Textbook Exchange Copywriter [link]
$46,613 Moroch Copywriter [link]
$83,812 Condé Nast Copywriter [link]
$79,256 Gotham Copywriter [link]
$52,889 The Designory Copywriter [link]
$49,092 Team Detroit Copywriter [link]
$53,676 Concept Farm Copywriter [link]
$57,865 AbelsonTaylor Copywriter [link]
$64,137 MRY Copywriter [link]
$34,864 Agora Financial Copywriter [link]
$68,431 gyro Copywriter [link]
$67,292 BoomBox Copywriter [link]
$54,306 PetEdge Copywriter [link]
$71,413 FCB Health Copywriter [link]
$51,211 BVK Copywriter [link]
$54,609 One Kings Lane Copywriter [link]
$36,117 TriDigital Copywriter [link]
$71,949 72andSunny Copywriter [link]
$37,009 Officite Copywriter [link]
$55,752 Ignition Copywriter [link]
$54,073 Davis Elen Advertising Copywriter [link]
$75,924 United Online Copywriter [link]
$58,096 McCann Worldgroup Copywriter [link]
$60,564 Weber Shandwick Copywriter [link]
$68,463 BBDO Detroit Copywriter [link]
$48,658 T3 Copywriter [link]
$46,686 Meredith Corporation Copywriter [link]
$32,581 TNT Dental Copywriter [link]
$58,536 Guess? Copywriter [link]
$42,221 Melaleuca Copywriter [link]
$80,302 Vitro Copywriter [link]
$73,593 GSD&M Copywriter [link]
$51,711 HZDG Copywriter [link]
$40,800 BFG Copywriter [link]
$56,051 GlynnDevins Copywriter [link]
$34,136 ARS Advertising Copywriter [link]
$56,847 Intouch Solutions Copywriter [link]
$44,749 Upshot Inc Copywriter [link]
$66,189 Olson Copywriter [link]
$28,603 True North Custom Copywriter [link]
$29,775 LocalVox Copywriter [link]
$50,254 Domo Copywriter [link]
$46,582 Two x Four Copywriter [link]
$62,534 Havas Health Copywriter [link]
$80,641 Publicis North America Copywriter [link]
$61,012 H4B Chelsea Copywriter [link]
$60,149 The Home Depot Copywriter [link]
$67,369 Huge Copywriter [link]
$64,687 G2 USA Copywriter [link]
$57,555 The Mars Agency Copywriter [link]
$59,913 LLNS Copywriter [link]
$91,101 Beachbody Copywriter [link]
$30,538 Brafton Copywriter [link]
$62,166 Sudler & Hennessey Copywriter [link]
$95,131 Translation Copywriter [link]
$84,989 Ignited Copywriter [link]
$68,332 Swirl Copywriter [link]
$133,872 Devito/Verdi Copywriter [link]
$117,295 Productopop Copywriter [link]
$50,606 NHK Cosmomedia America Copywriter [link]
$79,492 Hanft Unlimited Copywriter [link]
$54,081 Modernista Copywriter [link]
$148,048 Optimedia International Copywriter [link]
$49,831 Yamagata Bank Copywriter [link]
$56,338 Ogilvy & Mather Junior Copywriter [link]
$54,585 Havas Worldwide Junior Copywriter [link]
$50,447 Digitas Junior Copywriter [link]
$48,521 Sudler & Hennessey Junior Copywriter [link]
$50,130 McCann Erickson Junior Copywriter [link]
$48,983 Tribal DDB Junior Copywriter [link]
$42,555 Flashpoint Medica Junior Copywriter [link]
$44,836 GSD&M Junior Copywriter [link]
$31,342 Versa Creative Group Junior Copywriter [link]
$40,340 Upshot Inc Junior Copywriter [link]
$44,208 Rue La La Junior Copywriter [link]
$91,396 Ogilvy & Mather Senior CopyWriter [link]
$70,961 Capital One Senior CopyWriter [link]
$87,946 GSD&M Senior CopyWriter [link]
$112,922 Grey Group Senior CopyWriter [link]
$94,837 MRM//McCann Senior CopyWriter [link]
$98,633 RPA Senior CopyWriter [link]
$122,862 mcgarrybowen Senior CopyWriter [link]
$72,005 The Mars Agency Senior CopyWriter [link]
$84,345 Havas Health Senior CopyWriter [link]
$85,418 GA Communications Group Senior CopyWriter [link]
$94,528 RealNetworks Senior CopyWriter [link]
$98,324 Digitas Health Senior CopyWriter [link]
$119,491 72andSunny Senior CopyWriter [link]
$147,035 Goodby, Silverstein & Partners Senior CopyWriter [link]
$111,483 Arnold Worldwide Senior CopyWriter [link]
$80,578 LexisNexis Legal & Professional Senior CopyWriter [link]
$110,235 eBay Enterprise Senior CopyWriter [link]
$44,116 Horizon Hobby Senior CopyWriter [link]
$71,622 Havas Life Senior CopyWriter [link]
$73,310 R.R. Donnelley Senior CopyWriter [link]
$63,302 Capstrat Senior CopyWriter [link]
$55,729 Sears Senior CopyWriter [link]
$74,468 Dailey & Associates Senior CopyWriter [link]
$85,662 H4B Chelsea Senior CopyWriter [link]
$99,909 MTV Networks Senior CopyWriter [link]
$84,653 Havas Senior CopyWriter [link]
$97,342 Leopard Communications Senior CopyWriter [link]
$57,367 Upshot Inc Senior CopyWriter [link]
$80,092 H4B Catapult Senior CopyWriter [link]
$108,108 Conill Senior CopyWriter [link]
$97,415 Kirshenbaum Bond Senecal + Partners Senior CopyWriter [link]
$89,008 Sapient Senior CopyWriter [link]
$89,196 Reader’s Digest Senior CopyWriter [link]
$113,261 Zubi Advertising Senior CopyWriter [link]
$85,040 Casanova Pendrill Senior CopyWriter [link]
$126,162 Droga5 Senior CopyWriter [link]
$79,111 Prudential Senior Copywriting Specialist [link]
$78,907 Crispin Porter Senior Interactive Copywriter [link]
$69,146 Princess House Bilingual Copywriter [link]
$47,249 LatinWorks Technical Writer/Copywriter [link]
$48,007 Crispin Porter Interactive Copywriter [link]
$48,710 AbelsonTaylor Associate Copywriter [link]
$47,004 VML Associate Copywriter [link]
$46,457 Integer Group Associate Copywriter [link]
$45,622 FCB Associate Copywriter [link]
$40,453 Corbett Assistant Copywriter [link]
$53,120 Groupon Marketing Copywriter [link]

We can see pretty clearly that the most common copywriter salary is around the $55,000/year range. Going low as about $31,000 and high as around $147,000:
most common copywriter salaries chart

 

AGENCY & CORPORATE COPYWRITER SALARIES (HOURLY):

Some places prefer to pay their copywriters on an hourly rate rather than full time. You can see the different levels of income for different levels of copywriter and by company:

Hourly Rate $ Company Post Source
$9.62 Fathom Copywriter [link]
$60.63 FCB Copywriter – [link]
$50.41 Aquent Senior CopyWriter – [link]
$43.25 Lunchbox Copywriter – [link]
$40.93 Aquent Freelance Copywriter – [link]
$37.69 Aquent Copywriter – [link]
$28.32 Goldstar Events Copywriter [link]
$26.73 Walmart eCommerce SEO Copywriter [link]
$25.19 AR Media Copywriter/Creative Coordinator [link]
$24.74 YP Copywriter – [link]
$24.56 J. C. Penney Copywriter – [link]
$23.54 FindLaw Copywriter – [link]
$22.75 QVC Copywriter [link]
$20.34 Sears Copywriter – [link]
$19.62 Starmark/MARC USA Copywriter [link]
$17.71 Golden Hippo Media Copywriter [link]
$17.71 Forever 21 Copywriter [link]
$16.92 The RealReal Copywriter [link]
$15.83 Belk Copywriter [link]
$15.31 Kohl’s Digital Copywriter [link]
$14.83 HauteLook Copywriter [link]
$14.64 iNET Web Copywriter [link]
$14.52 Drift Web Design Copywriter [link]
$14.45 FCB Copywriter Intern [link]
$14.23 REVOLVE Copywriter [link]
$13.55 Overstock.com Copywriter [link]
$13.36 Ajax Union Copywriter [link]
$13.35 SoftRock Copywriter [link]
$13.34 Zulily Copywriter [link]
$11.39 eDrop-Off Copywriter [link]
$11.13 Sudler & Hennessey Copywriter Intern [link]
$11.05 The CDM Group Copywriter Intern [link]
$10.69 Web.com Inc Copywriter [link]
$10.31 RPA Copywriter Intern [link]
$10.14 Tocquigny Copywriter Intern [link]

The most common copywriter hourly salary is around the $18/hour range, and the average is about $21/hour. The lowest hourly wage was $10.14/hour, and the highest hourly wage was $60.63/hour. Now a lot of these hourly positions are for interns and junior copywriters, but it’s still helpful to see it graphed out:
most common copywriter hourly wages

 

 

The highest paying Corporate and Agency Copywriter Jobs (over $100,000/year):

We sorted the salaries that bring in over $100,000/year, and here’s what we got:

Salary $ Company Post Source
$148,048 Optimedia International Copywriter [link]
$147,035 Goodby, Silverstein & Partners Senior CopyWriter [link]
$136,105 Deutsch Senior CopyWriter [link]
$134,751 BBH Global Copywriter [link]
$133,872 Devito/Verdi Copywriter [link]
$127,034 AKQA Senior Copywriter [link]
$126,162 Droga5 Senior CopyWriter [link]
$122,862 mcgarrybowen Senior CopyWriter [link]
$120,864 BBDO Copywriter [link]
$120,775 TBWA\Chiat\Day Senior CopyWriter [link]
$119,491 72andSunny Senior CopyWriter [link]
$117,295 Productopop Copywriter [link]
$115,625 BBDO Senior CopyWriter [link]
$113,261 Zubi Advertising Senior CopyWriter [link]
$112,922 Grey Group Senior CopyWriter [link]
$112,744 J. Walter Thompson Worldwide Senior CopyWriter [link]
$111,483 Arnold Worldwide Senior CopyWriter [link]
$110,235 eBay Enterprise Senior CopyWriter [link]
$109,598 Tribal DDB Senior CopyWriter [link]
$108,660 Goodby, Silverstein & Partners Copywriter [link]
$108,390 OgilvyOne Senior CopyWriter [link]
$108,321 Crispin Porter Senior CopyWriter [link]
$108,108 Conill Senior CopyWriter [link]
$106,940 Team One Copywriter [link]
$106,284 DDB New York Senior CopyWriter [link]
$106,231 Razorfish Senior CopyWriter [link]
$103,856 Saatchi & Saatchi Senior CopyWriter [link]
$101,900 C-K Senior CopyWriter [link]
$100,903 Publicis Senior Copywriter [link]

It’s pretty clear that most of these jobs are for Senior Copywriters at large advertising agencies. So if you want to make over $100,000/year as a copywriter for an agency or corporation, aiming to become the Senior Copywriter is your ticket!
 
 

FREELANCE COPYWRITER SALARIES:


This is the hardest group of copywriters to accurately gather data for, because it’s all self reported.

The data gets all garbled because:

  • ….a freelancer will often self-report only their “greatest” years, not the average numbers.
  • ….a freelancer can “bring in” $100,000 in revenue, but that doesn’t remotely mean it was all profit.  Since they are running their own business they may have lots of costs and overhead they’re not reporting.
  • ….there’s no reliable way to see if they’re reports are true.
  • ….the ranges vary so so so so much. You’ll meet freelance copywriters making $2,000 per year, and other freelance copywriters making $2,000,000 per year.  These extreme ranges make it difficult to report a specific amount.

For example, I brought in several hundreds thousand dollars last year from copywriting fees off this page alone.

BUT…..I also know a great deal of freelance copywriters that made maybe $800 extra in the whole year.

The other issue with reporting this number is I didn’t actively promote my consulting services, so the number could be far different depending on the amount of marketing I do to the consulting services. There’s just no super-reliable way to full understand these numbers.
 

Why freelance copywriters can *possibly* make the most money:

If someone is a “freelance copywriter”, what that really means is they are a “small business owner.”

This means they have to handle all the annoyances of owning a business (such as expenses, lean years, and accounting), but also get all the perks of owning a business (such as making an unlimited cap of money, doing whatever you want, and getting paid as you choose).

The freelance writer can follow a path like this to becoming very successful:

Works as an agency copywriter –> Picks up a few freelance writing clients on the side –> Word gets out about them and they take on more clients –> They start making more money than their job so they quit –> They put up a website and join writing communities –> Opportunities come along where they can make a lot of money by partnering with another company –> They get offered a position to be director of marketing a fast growing startup –> They end up making a good deal of money etc etc….

What happens is the freelancer writer after a few years often gets tangled up in some other businesses.  This doesn’t always work out, but it can.

And just like any small business owner, the path to success is usually not a straight and paved path.  It’s usually disguised in the form of a meandering and uncertain path.

Me for example, I never planned on becoming a “copywriter.”  In fact until about 5 years ago I didn’t even what that word meant (I thought copywriting was what patent lawyers do).

By trying to become a copywriter you end up picking up this whole stable of skills along the way (Go here if you are trying to get your first freelance gig):

  • How to charge clients.
  • How to consult as a side job.
  • The psychological reasons people buy things.
  • How to sell products and services.
  • After years of experience you start developing a sense of what WILL sell and what WON’T sell.
  • The difference between using logical selling points and emotional selling.
  • The list goes on…..

 

 

Salary Synopsis (by copywriter type):

Here’s a quick synopsis of the data we found sorted by the type of copywriter being hired:

Copywriter Salary
Average Copywriter Salary Data:
These are the salary ranges for any type of copywriter:
Average: $57,000
Lowest: $31,000
Highest: $147,035

Junior Copywriter Salary
Junior Copywriter Salary Data:
As an entry-level copywriter in the working world, here’s the salaries you can expect:
Average: $46,868
Lowest: $31,342
Highest: $56,338

Copywriting Intern Salary
Copywriter Intern Salary Data:
If you’re simply interning as a copywriter, you can gain a massive amount of great experience, but the pay is often on the lower end and hourly:
Average: $11/hour
Lowest: $10/hour
Highest: $14/hour

Technical Copywriter Salary
Technical Copywriter Salary Data:
If you are writing technical documents, the copywriting work can be more lucrative (although sometimes a little boring):
Average: $65,020
Lowest: $47,249
Highest: $94,518

Senior Copywriter Salary
Senior Copywriter Salary Data:
A senior copywriter can pull in a strong wage, as they are in charge of all the marketing copy that goes out the door and makes sales:
Average: $91,005
Lowest: $44,116
Highest: $147,035

Associate Copywriter Salary
Associate Copywriter Salary Data:
An associate copywriter working can expect earnings like this:
Average: $47,746
Lowest: $44,526
Highest: $50,434

Of course these are just the lows/highs/averages from the data we collected, but hopefully this gives you a good idea of what you can make as a copywriter!

Related Copywriting Articles:

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Hope you learned something and enjoyed!
Sincerely,
Neville Medhora

P.S. Let’s get some self-reported data from the copywriters! In the comments tell us how much you make as a freelance copywriter!

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  3. I see this is an old post and probably the numbers Neville reported have increased.  They’re still pretty pathetic, though.  In the first quarter of 2020, in the U.S. men earned a median annual salary of $55,432, while women made a median annual salary of $44,564.  For men, that’s about $28 an hour, for women about $22 an hour.  If you’re any kind of freelancer and wish to make a merely average income, you’ll have to set your fees at about three times your desired hourly rate (you, not your employer, bear all the overhead costs of running your business, finding clients, etc., and you’re not going to have 2000 billable hours a year), or about $84 an hour (c’mon, equal pay for men and women).  This should be your baseline, and your job is to prove to your client that you’re worth at least that amount of money, preferably much more.  Obviously, when you start you won’t have the necessary skills or a track record, so $84 an hour is aspirational, but if after a year or two of solid work you’re not hitting close to the $84 rate then you might have to rethink your position.  Not everyone is cut out to be a freelancer, just like not everyone can be comfortable working in someone else’s office.  Personally, I’d pick up dog poop for a living before I’d go back to working in a corporate office, even when it was my own corporation.  LOL

    Reply
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  16. Great research! Thanks for this post, at last, realistic and useful information for those of us who are just starting out.

    Reply

  17. Hi

    I am looking for information about a how much money a copywritter(no english) in groupon will make in Poland, do you know this information? I cannot find. My native language is spanish.

     

     

    Thanks!!!

    Reply
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  22. I’m reviewing copywriter job details.

    What is expected of a copywriter?

    Can the job be remote, how likely?

    How to earn experience?

    What computer programs should I have and computer specifications, internet, etc.

    I’m a great writer and need to make some extra cash.

    I need to be able to work at home.

    Do any employers offer a computer/lap top?

    Where should I start looking and pay to be expected?

    I have an AA Degree in office administration.

    I want to reside in Florida. Cocoa Beach area.

    Thank you,

    Jennifer E. Dixon
    jenneliz2018@gmail.com
    (256) 926-8888

    Reply

  23. The Burning Question: How much should I charge per hour as a freelance copywriter with no formal training but has about 10 years experience working in a different region? I just migrated to California from Malaysia, and feeling like a total noob.

    The Back Story: Originally from Malaysia, I married a US citizen in November and voila – here I am. I’m not traditionally trained (no Mass Com degree or similar) but I’ve been writing copy as my main job (or as part of my job) for over 10 years now. I began my career as a secretary and wrote copy on the side for a branding firm. Eventually I got hired full-time as a junior copywriter and worked my way up to Senior CW writing for web, radio and print. Then I joined a PR firm, and did press releases, voice-overs, videos and such. The job I had before coming out here was as an Executive Administrator for a Vice President in Altera Malaysia (now Intel), and while there I wrote speeches, press releases, emceed events and other related tasks in addition to my Girl Friday duties (I am a trained secretary as my base profession).

    And now… here I am in the US with a potential client wanting me to quote them. I have no idea where to place my pin on a price. Internet research has given me a fee range from $14 up to $400 an hour (intern to pro), and perhaps a median around $70/hour?

    I initially thought of charging $30/hr – student price OR feeler price (I have no formal training, and maybe my newness to the US market negates my writing experience in Malaysia?).

    My husband thinks I’m insane. He says $50/hr at lowest. I’m looking for evidence to justify me charging that amount of money (or more if justified).

    I’d appreciate any guidance that is current to 2018 and California (San Jose/San Francisco).

    Reply

    1. Note: I just realized the most recent posts were organized at the top, not the bottom. So 2016 wasn’t the most recent post :D My bad!

      Reply

    2. Hey Gayle,

      For what it’s worth, I think $50/hr is totally reasonable. I used to be a freelance copywriter when I was fresh out of college, making a puny $12 per 500 word SEO article, but a few entry level marketing jobs later I got picked up full-time by a PR agency, and that job WAS formal training, so your work experience can count as formal training, I believe. The agency charged clients about $250 per article, yet if you broke down the ghostwriters’ salaries it came out to about $37 per article produced. And that’s below market if you live in places like NYC and California. Most freelancers in NYC I know charge $60-$100/hr for either graphic design or copywriting services.

      Another thing to consider is what your time is worth and what you could make in one hour doing any task you’re skilled in. You could charge based on that. Don’t sell yourself short. When your potential client is deciding whether they need your service or not, it’s rarely about price or time needed to think, it’s about value. You need to point out the pain point and show them why you’re the right person to resolve it.

      Reply
  24. Pingback: Salary of Copywriters - Copy It Right

  25. Hey Neville,
    I am a recent Marketing Graduate with sales experience trying to get my first copywriting gig, The only writing piece i have that I could put on my portfolio is a revised and edited sales script for Verizon FiOS retail, this script did allow me to place in the nations top 20 sales during several months although it was based off a generic script that was given out by the outsourced marketing firm i worked for. Other than that script when I go about making my copywriting profile it feels as if I am putting my resume summarized on the profile. I understand you said that being niche specific can help when first starting out. I am not sure where to look for niche specific copywriting jobs when my profile is extremely naked other than a sales script that I used.

    Reply
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  32. 1) Working at an agency in Dallas. Total compensation is just north of 100k. I supplement with freelancing when my workload permits or if I’m getting bored with the steady gig. My go-to rate is $100/hr. If there’s the promise of a longer relationship, I’ll drop it down to $75. I’ve found flat fee projects tend to be the most lucrative (e.g., made $1,500 writing three or four radio concepts and roughly producing the approved script on my own so the client could sell in the product to a retailer).

    2) $400’s the most I’ve seen. The real aces tend to also do VO work since they’re convincingly selling in scripts.

    3) I guess the above radio job. Probably spent a total of five hours, so $300/hr.

    4) Entry-level gig paid a paltry $26,500. I was just happy to officially have the “copywriter” title.

    5) For freelance, I’d say $100/hr.

    Reply

    1. Nice Daniel! Seems like you’ve got a pretty great gig! Thanks for sharing, it’s super helpful for everyone to see.

      Reply

      1. Hey neville, Im from Belgium . Here they laugh at me. Im trying to become a Copywriter here. But with No high education they just laugh with your face :( . Im following a course and Im almost done. I get excellent scores at My homework . Im scared that they Will laugh Some more if i start freelancing with No education or experience. So Im even more scared to start a blog.
        If noone takes me seriously , How Will i get gigs and good jobs?

        Please Can you help me ?

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  34. Hi Neville,

    Nice post. Exactly the kind of stuff writers new and old want to know. I’ve been doing this for awhile, since the early ’90s, and was pretty lucky to fall in with some great colleagues and mentors.

    I’m a little too discreet I’m afraid to post specific numbers, but at this point I’m working freelance and do in the low-to-mid six figures, most years. I haven’t made less than six-figures in about 15 or so years.

    I can do this… I rarely take on a copy project (about a month’s work) for less than $10K. More typically $15K to $20K. Bit involved to explain why it varies, but it’s got something to do with a monthly retainer + scope of project. Added to that, I get royalties… used to be about 2% on the gross, net of refunds (before overhead, etc). Now it’s 4%. I also do some consulting at $1,500 a day plus travel. Though, I love what you’re doing with the hourly slots per week… might swipe that!

    All that sounds pretty good to a newbie, I’m pretty sure. But frankly, I’ve been lazy. Could be doing better if I were to angle for some partial ownership in products and sell more aggressively to my own email list (copywritersroundtable.com). Just took a look at your recurring revenue calculator (not to mention, your FU Calculator) and realize I’ve got some work to do!

    Anyway, you do a nice breakdown here. I think the freelance thing is enticing to your readers for a lot of reasons, potentially high income among them. I’d suggest — on top of all the things you’ve said already — that if they can build a base of potential clients from the INSIDE of a company or agency, that’s a good way to start.

    – John

    Reply

    1. Thanks John, appreciate the kind words!

      That’s awesome you don’t take less than $10,000 for a copywriting project. I think if you’re the one writing an entire launch you can definitely command those prices.

      I like the hourly slots because some people don’t need full re-writes of things. Also I deal with a lot of software companies, so those don’t require quite as much copy.

      Thanks for sharing John!

      Reply
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  36. Hi Nev!
    Interesting post! Actually don’t have a clue about copywriting salaries, but I do have some answers regarding content writing and translation from 100’s of freelancers and in over 25 languages, hope it helps.

    Note. Nev, would be very interesting to get your feedback on our word processing platform, couldn’t find your e-mail.
    My answers:
    1.) How much do you make as a freelance content writer?
    My gross hourly rate is about 40 USD, but actually finding the job, understanding the instructions, getting paid etc is 55%. So net hourly rate below 20 USD, then there is taxes. Did a break down of it here: http://wordapp.io/why-wordapp/

    2.) How much have you seen other content writers make?
    Highest I have seen in the last 6 months is an net hourly rate of 400 USD.

    5.) What’s the average a freelance content writer makes.
    Hourly rates varies depending on your language, but in English our data on about 30 writers in June show an average net hourly rate of 14,2 USD for writing and 22,1 USD for editing. Can be as low as 8 USD and as high as 40 USD mainly depending on topic/industry and experience of the freelancer. The rates are all net not gross.

    Disclamer: I am not doing much freelancing myself anymore, I run a startup called Wordapp which makes content writing and translation way more productive for freelancers. Right now it is in private beta, but in 2016 anyone will be able to use it for free to create and translate content and ads, with a way higher productivity.

    Reply

    1. Cem, thanks for the sharing!

      I looked at your webpage and still have no clue what your app does. You may need to just show it in action :)

      Reply

  37. I am a newbie to the world of copywriting but I am currently a student in an advertising program with my heart set on copywriting. Reading this blog is insightful to see the possible incomes, as I am trying to transition from the dental workplace to the copywriting industry. I currently took on my first side project for a real estate company this summer, a script for an online commercial, the pay was $250. I wouldn’t know if that was good or not. However, stumbling across your blog will indefinitely help guide me to more knowledge and inspiration in the area of copywriting. Thank you. Freelance copywriter seems to call out to me, in the near future :).

    Reply

  38. 1.1.) How much do you make as a copywriter?
    In NZ, I make $70 an hour (around US$50) doing freelance work.

    2.) How much have you seen other copywriters make?
    You can make anywhere from NZ $50 – 150 (US$35 – $106).

    3.) What’s the most you’ve ever made
    $70 per hour
    4.) What’s the least you’ve ever made.
    When starting I out I emailed all well known copywriters I could find in NZ and said I would be willing to write on a small project for free. Sure there’s rejection, but a couple people actually were impressed with my introduction email and could see I could really write. The rest is history.

    5.) What’s the average you make.

    I don’t budge from my NZ$70 (US$50) mark. People can take it or leave it. I’m currently very busy.

    Reply

  40. 1.) How much do you make as a copywriter? If I were to answer this in a straightforward manner, the answer would be that I have no idea. Here’s why, I’ve been in the business of working in other people’s businesses for a looonnnggg time. It’s only over the last 3 months that I’ve decided to make a change so I can focus on doing what I love to do and not have to head back to “Go” (NOT collecting $200) every time a previously awesome client decides to stop just sipping the Kool-Aid of internet marketing slimy tactics and decides to swim in the pool of it instead.

    Copywriting has always been a part of the work that I do with clients but it’s bundled along with other work as well. With that ever so confusing model, I make on average $96K / year (looking at the last 3 years). Now that I’m changing how I work and what I do, I can see where I have been deeply underpricing myself (which by the way, I’ve found can actually hurt one’s credibility). I’m still working on figuring out where I should be priced so articles like this are priceless! (…gushing gratitude for you Neville).

    2.) How much have you seen other copywriters make?

    People I have personal experience with in my industry make between $60k and $160k. The price range reflects both a difference in actual skill and experience but also the fact that the one making $60k is a great copywriter but horrible business person who won’t invest in herself to learn how she could be doing so much better.

    3.) What’s the most you’ve ever made? $112k in a year (and I’ve gotta tell ya, it felt pretty good to have the income but I still wasn’t so smart about it so I had no time to enjoy my bounty, or sleep, or eat sitting anywhere other than at my desk)

    4.) What’s the least you’ve ever made? Since leaving my job in the the corporate world 15+ years ago, the least I’ve made in a year is $63k

    5.) What’s the average you make? I make on average $96k / year (looking at the last 3 years) …with the more complete explanation in question one above. As I narrow my focus, which I’m still trying to determine how to do effectively, I expect that number to go up as my enjoyment of what I do goes up as well. I’ve decided I’m allergic to doing work I don’t like for people who have decided to suck. That’s my business plan of the moment.

    Reply

    1. Whoa, thanks Debbie! A very prize-worthy explanation!

      It seems every your lowest year was at least above the salary of the average American, so that’s pretty cool.

      I think the price you can command is tied to your popularity or credibility in an industry. Generally the people I know who make toonnss of money as a copywriter, are also doing (like you said) a bunch of other things, not just typing out words.

      They are planning a launch schedule, making images, gathering data, working with a team to get the pages in place. It’s basically a whole package where copywriting is part of it. Essentially they do what an agency does.

      Thanks so much for your insights Debbie!

      Reply

  41. 1.) How much do you make as a copywriter?
    I’m a freelance Senior Copywriter & Marketing Consultant and I charge $125 / hour.

    2.) How much have you seen other copywriters make?
    Around what I make or less.

    3.) What’s the most you’ve ever made (in a year, or on one project)?
    I had a full-time job at a branding agency in New York @ $100K/year, but was also freelancing on the side. I think I made $120K doing that last year, then quit my full-time job to focus on freelancing.

    4.) What’s the least you’ve ever made?
    My first job was at 360i as an associate; I believe my starting salary was $36K. Before that, though, I worked as the managing editor at a content startup and was making $300/month. A banana at Starbucks was 50c and I ate peanut butter at home with the banana. YUMMY!

    5.) What’s the average you make?
    This year will be my first full-time year freelancing, so I’m not 100% sure. Based on my earnings so far, I think I will end up pulling in $100K or more.

    ANY information and numbers you share are helpful to the copywriting community as a whole!
    Do not budge on your rate and do not work for free/do spec work, as it only hurts the writing community as a whole. If a client doesn’t want to pay your rate, you can work with them to figure out a way to keep costs down, but do not say you’ll accept a lower rate. The next thing you know, they’ve got a “friend” who wants the “friend discount” too. NO!

    Also, if you’re a freelancer, hire an accountant early to help you plan for taxes; it’s always helpful to know ahead of time how much you may owe per quarter.

    Reply

    1. Whoa this was great Annie!

      Good to hear about your story making $300/month. That’s insane….but good to know bananas and peanut butter (something I still eat REGARDLESS!) are the answer :-)

      Congrats on pulling in 100k in your first year, that’s great. I bet you can continue to climb if you add more services and word of mouth.

      Thank you for the insights Annie!

      Reply

      1. Thanks Neville! Love your blog. Starting this week, I’m teaching a copywriting course at Miami Ad School and guess what’s on the required reading list? ;-)

  42. Hey Nev,
    Small side note before I answer your questions… I discovered you since having my baby and quitting my corporate marketing job. I’m really trying to hone my kopywriting skillz to continue to build my marketing business from home with the babe. I was recently helping a client build a website (I’m in Savannah, GA and she’s in Austin) and lo and behold I found a photo of you at one of her events in her digital assets as we’re building the site. Crazy weird small world, right?

    Either way, I think it’s the universe telling me you’re supposed to be my kopywriting guru and I’m supposed to win your book bundle!

    My answers:
    1.) How much do you make as a copywriter?
    $45/hour with an agency and $85/hour on my own… these hours are sporadic. This is the trick…finding consistency, passive income, or getting to a place to charge more. Right now let’s say $2k per month.

    2.) How much have you seen other copywriters make?
    I’ve paid $110/hour for a talented freelancer to help with a project in my corporate job. It was worth it, and my company was happy to pay that rate for the end product and just getting the dang thing done. I think people don’t realize if they meet their deadlines, are responsive, ask the right questions, are generally easy to work with and get the damn thing finished that counts for A LOT.

    3.) What’s the most you’ve ever made
    $70K at my corporate marketing job… it was more than copywriting, but my title included “content manager.”

    4.) What’s the least you’ve ever made.
    $30K as an SEO specialist starting out in 2008

    5.) What’s the average you make.
    Right now as a freelancer $2k per month is a good month. I’m out there hustlin’ and chasing a crawling baby around the house at the same time though.

    Hope that helps! I don’t like talking about money just because of the politeness factor, but I definitely think if it’s for the good of a community and you’re talking shop rather than throwing out numbers bragging at a cocktail party, there is certainly a distinction. Thanks for the forum, Neville!

    Reply

    1. Thanks for sharing Kelly!

      I mean for having a new baby and still hustling in $2,000/mo that’s pretty sweet!

      I have an article coming out next about how a first time copywriter can build their business, so hopefully that helps you a bit (although it seems you’ve got a head start already).

      Best of luck Kelly, and thanks so much for sharing!

      Reply

  43. Hey Nev,

    Copywriting as a title disappears the more senior you become. The job hierarchy inside a company, especially agencies, is to eventually get promoted into new jobs that don’t have the words copywriter any longer.

    It goes something like something menial > jr. copywriter > copywriter > sr. copywriter > and then on to creative manager, or art director, or associate creative director, or whatever titles.

    That’s why the chart shows so little few paying amounts for copywriters. It’s not that they can’t ever make hundreds of thousands of dollars. It’s that by the time they do, they haven’t been called a copywriter in a while.

    Anyway, just wanted to point that out since it’s a bit misleading how rare the $100k+ salaries are on the chart.

    Reply

    1. That’s actually pretty insightful Brian, I never thought of it that way!

      It was super difficult to gather solid data for those upper-most jobs, and also freelance jobs. Might be interesting to figure out how many of these people started as a copywriter then moved their way up!

      Reply

  44. Comment: I got into a heated discussion with my wife about copywriting and money. After reading this article, http://www.sidehustlenation.com/get-freelance-clients/ (not promoting it, for your reference only) a freelancer named Jesse claims he makes $125/hr copywriting. She thinks it’s B.S. I’m thinking there’s more to be learned about copywriting. Stop.

    Reply

    1. Hey Rob5, I think making a $125/hr is totally legit and true (I charge $597 for a single hour). HOWEVER, just because someone charges that:

      1.) It doesn’t mean it’s ALWAYS the same rate. Example: If people buy my hours in large quantities, the price goes down from $597 to $450 to $350 at the lowest rate.

      2.)It doesn’t mean they book their entire days full of those. Sure they may get $125/hour, but they may only get that for 6 hours per month. It doesn’t mean you can simply say $125 x 40/hr/week is their salary.

      So yes, it’s always good to be skeptical, but it’s also good to be open that it IS possible, and that people CAN make a good deal of money freelancing as a copywriter.

      P.S. Love that you put a “Stop” at the end of your message like a telegram :-P

      Reply

  45. Nev,

    I have followed you for 6 years now. SIX YEARS! I feel like i know you i have followed you for so many years. Back in the day you used to put out some killer, high quality content, (early appsumo days. I remember listening to you and noah talk about appsumo and marketing and copywriting). Somewhere along the line you seemed to lose the passion and to be honest, your writing kind of fell off for me.
    However, THIS is some AMAZING, high quality content! Nice job on putting this together! Excited to see that you are starting to put out some great stuff again.
    I used to really admire your monthly goals. I can still picture them in my mind when I think about them.
    Looking forward to reading your future content!

    Reply

    1. Hey Kyle, thank you….I THINK?

      Obviously you probably liked the crazy AppSumo copy aimed at a wide audience, but right now the objective of KopywritingKourse is to be very specific in the articles I put out…..and if you’re not super into copywriting, a lot of them probably won’t be terribly interesting to you.

      Anyhow, thanks for following along all these years, it’s been a fun journey so far. Some cool stuff in store for you :)

      Reply

  46. Wow Nev this was pretty juicy to read! I have been following your site and learning copywriting for a while now. I graduate next year and plan to work at an advertising agency here in NYC and this was actually quite helpful to read. Thank you.

    Reply

    1. Thanks Reese! Here’s some advice (not like you asked for it :-P….but it here it is)!

      Start reading these copywriting books: https://copywritingcourse.com/copywriting-courses-books-review/
      (watch the video at the end, it’s helpful).

      These will give you SUCH A HUGE ADVANTAGE over the other people you will be working with at the agency. You will also be able to better rap with the senior copywriters and hopefully rocket up through the company faster than people who are coming in as a blank slate.

      Also….make sure you WRITE. Start a blog immediately if you haven’t.

      Reply

  47. 1.) How much do you make as a copywriter?

    I’m brand new to copywriting, and so I’m reading and trying to learn everything. I’ve written a few blog posts for fun, and I’m learning how to write keyword rich posts. A kind friend of mine actually even paid for my posts – that was awesome, so I guess I’m hooked now. :)

    2.) How much have you seen other copywriters make?

    LOL see above. Wowzers, it’s exciting to see the opportunities that await!

    3.) What’s the most you’ve ever made

    I made about $200 from writing those five blog posts for my friend.

    4.) What’s the least you’ve ever made.

    I’m not making anything right now, so I can only get better!

    Reply

    1. Thank you Ange!

      Word of caution: Don’t try to write “keyword rich posts” too aggressively. Simply repeating phrases in a post doesn’t fool Google into ranking you higher. Quality Content + People Linking To It = Good SEO.

      I think if you keep it up, post on a bunch of the freelancer sites, and build a bit of a reputation you will keep moving up!

      Reply

  48. 1.) How much do you make as a copywriter?

    $35,000 salary — but in my current job I do much more than just copywriting, I handle all marketing functions. Yes, it’s sad, I know. I’ve done the research and seen my salary is in the bottom 10% of others with my role and experience.

    2.) How much have you seen other copywriters make?

    As much as $100,000 a year — those lucky foxes.

    3.) What’s the most you’ve ever made.

    My current salary, unfortunately. Dear copywriters, don’t work in Florida.

    4.) What’s the least you’ve ever made.

    $12 per 450 word article as a freelance SEO writer. But, at this point I had no experience in SEO writing, only a couple of (not very formative) internships and college courses under my belt.

    5.) What’s the average you make.

    About $30,000 a year is average when considering all marketing/copywriting jobs I’ve had in my short 5 years after graduating college.

    Reply

  49. I want to thank you for an amazing insightful article. Most professional are very hesitant to divulge their salaries. This will help me a lot when I start my business. I have taken you course, but I just don’t know how to get started. Any advice would be appreciated on how to get my first client.

    Thanks!

    Reply

      1. Yes,
        That would be very interesting Neville.

        Thanks for the great post and to everyone for posting a response.

  50. I do marketing consulting along with copywriting. When i write, i get $250 an hour.

    Reply

    2. Hey John. I am looking forward to do the same, Marketing consultant as well as a copywriter. I want to start, can you let me know how? I will really be glad to know. :)

      Reply

  51. As a Dutch freelance copywriter, this was quite an interesting read for me. In the Netherlands, it is really uncommon for people to share their salaries. That has lead me to being very unsure about what to charge for my work. As a freelancer, on a very competitive market, you don’t want to overcharge and not get the job, but you also have to think about taxes and days off and non-billable hours and include that in your fee. That said, I haven’t been able to make that much yet, because a lot of starting copywriters are willing to do the work for next to nothing, for example because they do it ‘on the side’. That makes it difficult for people like me who try to make a living by doing this full-time.
    I started working freelance for as little as €12,50 an hour, but I could do so because I could make a lot of hours at that company. Now I’m working for €20 an hour, and I can count on 16 billable hours a week. I’m trying to find some more work assignments next to that. I used to work as an in-house copywriter for a non-profit cultural organization, where I made €2000 / month on a fulltime basis. That’s why I feel very ‘rich’ now I’m getting paid €20 / hour, but I do realize I’m going to need to ask more in future assignments. I’m still working on getting my name and my company out there, and I’m sure in a couple of years I’ll be charging at least three times what I’m making right now.
    This blogpost made me realize that’s a feasible goal. And that if I really want to make big money, I’ll have to go and call a major company. But I think I’ll stick with the freelancing. If I worked for a company, I wouldn’t have been able to write this on a Monday afternoon still wearing my jogging pants :)

    Reply

    1. Hey Sarah, thank you for being so transparent.

      Even here in the U.S. it’s relatively uncommon to openly share salaries. I think this is a BAD thing because if you knew how much others are making, it could inspire you do to more.

      I hear your worries about charging for non-billable hours and such……have you ever read my Consulting As A Side Job post? https://copywritingcourse.com/consulting-as-a-side-job/

      ….it details how I get around all that stuff.

      Working for a low price first is not bad….but if you want to make more, it’s important to pick up new skills, list your previous successes, and start building a bit of a brand. I will address all that stuff soon on the blog.

      It’s good you’re not all about the money, but maybe you can put together certain “packages” to offer people to start increasing your prices. More on that soon!

      Reply

      1. Looks like the first sentence needs a little fix.

  53. Love this post! I’m eager to see some self-reporting in the comments.

    Here’s my stuff:

    1.) How much do you make as a copywriter?
    I’m only in my first year as a full-time copywriter. I’ve made $28,000 so far. My estimate is that if I keep growing at the rate I am I’ll pull in $60k this year.

    2.) How much have you seen other copywriters make?
    The copywriters I most admire do a combo of writing projects, online courses and consults. I’ve seen rates up to $750/hour.
    One copywriter I know charges $1500/day and only does 1-2 days of work each week.
    Joanna W. of Copyhackers has mentioned charging $50k per project, plus whatever she makes through the blog, courses and ebooks.
    Content writers usually make less. The good ones charge $50/hour for blog posts, ebooks and newsletters. (This is one of the reasons I switched to copywriting. I charge more for a landing page that takes as much time as a cheap blog post.)

    3.) What’s the most you’ve ever made
    I worked full-time at two tech companies doing a combination of social media, content strategy and copywriting. I made $85k/year at the first job and $110k/year at the second.

    4.) What’s the least you’ve ever made.
    My first year freelancing doing content marketing—I made around $2k/month and sometimes charged as little as $20/hour.

    5.) What’s the average you make.
    Right now I won’t work for less than $100/hour. I just can’t write for 8 hours per day. That means I only get in 3-4 hours of creative, productive, billable time each day so I need to charge more per hour. (I charge per project when I can. The longer I do this, the more efficient I get.) If you average this with my first year in business charging $20/hour, then the 6 months I charged $50/hour you can an average of $56/hour.

    Reply

  54. I never meant to become a copywriter, but I’ve been paid as one about 3 times. I work in a company that does marketing for mid-sized businesses and 3 times I’ve been paid on the side to help clients with their own side projects. All in all I’ve made about $1,500 from these side projects. It’s not enough to quit my job or anything but it’s great side income!

    Reply

    1. Well for not evenTRYING to become a copywriter and still brining in some money on the side, that’s pretty good!

      Reply

  55. 1.) How much do you make as a copywriter?
    I copywriter part time. My main focus is growing my blog. With that said I started at $750-$1100 a month (my goal was a $1000 a month). Since then I’ve gotten a following and am working with a guy to become his head copywriter and go on retainer. I pull in between $1500 and $3500 a month (on the side) depending on who needs work that month.

    2.) How much have you seen other copywriters make?
    I’m friends with people like Marc Aarons. He is a six figure guy.

    3.) What’s the most you’ve ever made
    In a year:$24,000 (on the side, not full time)
    On a project $6,000 (wrote a post on this)
    4.) What’s the least you’ve ever made.
    $150.
    5.) What’s the average you make
    $750-1220 per project. I do a lot of work on Upwork so this might changet so I can better navigate their higher fees.

    Reply

    1. Thanks for sharing Jesse! I saw your blog is like an open book, so you’re one of the few that would possibly share, thank you! Prize-worthy stuff perhaps :)

      Reply

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