According to PayScale, the average base salary for a copywriter in the US is $54,797.
(To put that into perspective, the average base salary for a teacher in the US is $50,343, according to PayScale).
According to Glassdoor, a copywriter earns an estimated average annual salary of $90,657 in the United States.
This number includes those working in both in-house positions and for agencies.
It also includes additional pay, which could be in the form of bonuses or commissions.
Of course, there are many factors that affect an individual copywriter’s earnings.
- Location
- Level of experience
- Level of training
- Size of the company
- Company bonus and commission structures
However, your income can change drastically if you work as a freelance copywriter.
The sky’s the limit when you start earning as a freelance copywriter.
You can make up to six figures annually, and some copywriters even pull down seven-figure incomes.
There are plenty of examples out there of successful copywriters making great money.
- Abi Prendergast landed 3 new clients and closed $12K… in one morning
- Scott Sealey made over $19K in just 46 days without sending cold pitches
- Danny Margulies was a 6 figure freelancer in 12 months using a freelance platform typically known for low-paying copywriting projects
- And Emilia Tanase started making money as a copywriter when she was 16
So, yes, making good… heck, great money as a copywriter is absolutely possible.
Should I work as a freelance copywriter or an
in-house copywriter?
If you’re a new copywriter,
…and you need a steady income
…with benefits
….but you have little business experience,
I recommend getting an in-house copywriting job with a great company. Or getting an agency copywriter job.
You’ll dive into a copywriting career, earn a steady paycheck, have benefits, learn copywriting skills and get tons of practice.
(At least, that’s the type of position you should look for).
The company or agency may even pay for you to take copywriting training.
Many companies are willing to invest in copywriting courses to help their beginner copywriters become skilled copywriters.
“But can’t I just start a freelance copywriting business?”
Of course.
But understand the challenge:
You’ll have to split your time between learning and practicing your writing skills, getting consistent copywriting clients, and executing your client copywriting projects.
That’s a lot for beginner copywriters to manage.
People often forget about all of the other tasks required to run an entire freelance copywriting business.
Here are just a few of the other tasks required:
- Marketing your business, so you attract more prospective clients
- Managing your business finances. This includes operating costs and taxes
- Understand and abide by legal requirements
You can do it, of course.
But if I had to do it all over again, I’d advise my fresh copywriter-self to get an in-house job.
How do I make money copywriting?
Whether you’re going to get a job as a copywriter or jump into freelance copywriting, you should focus on the essentials:
1. Build your copywriting skills
Start learning about persuasion and effective copywriting now.
Even as you look for a copywriting job or try to land your first freelance copywriting gig, you need to learn how to write persuasive copy that gets people to say “Yes” to an offer.
There are tons of ways to build your copywriting skills. Here are just a few:
- Read a copywriting book
- Take paid online copywriting classes or a free copywriting training
- Take what you learn and create writing samples
Learning (and practicing) on a daily basis will get you on the path to becoming a successful, experienced copywriter.
While you’re practicing your copywriting skills, you’ll also build your copywriting portfolio.
Your portfolio is where you showcase examples of your best work.
It shows potential employers or potential clients your writing expertise and how well you can execute on a project.
A portfolio should include your writing samples, links to your website or a guest post you wrote, social media profiles, etc.
Consider using a tool like Packs to organize and annotate the examples in your portfolio.
A compelling writing portfolio can be a great way to differentiate yourself.
2. Find a copywriting community and network
Copywriting can be a lonely profession if you let it.
Sometimes it can feel like your only colleague is your computer. Or your cat.
That’s why finding a copywriting group is important (either face-to-face or online).
Plus, experienced copywriters can be great resources for beginner copywriters.
Consider joining our free Facebook group here.
3. Get a paid writing job or your first business client
If you’re choosing to get a copywriting job, definitely check out copywriter positions listed on LinkedIn, Indeed, and Google.
If you’re ready to start building your freelance copywriting business, check out this article.
And check out this Copyhacks video where Nelliane St. Clair, the “Minimalist Marketer,” shows you how one blog post can get you clients – and a lot of them.
(Nellieane dove into copywriting with no clients, no testimonials and no case studies).
Take the first step toward making money from copywriting…
You’ll never know what’s possible in the copywriting field if you don’t take action.
You don’t have to take a huge step. Just a first step.
And signing up for our free Conversion Copywriting 101 course is the perfect first step for beginners.
It’ll teach you the basics of copywriting (and some copywriting secrets).
Take the first step toward your copywriting income now.
