Business Writer | Salary & Job Information

Becoming a Business Writer via Online Education?

At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths. Penn Foster Career School is a US school (accredited) offering business writing courses to train individuals to become top-notch business writers, legal writing professors, copy editors, copywriters, etc. Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 43,390 people employed as writers and authors alone in America, and their average annual salary is $64,560. Business operations specialists make on average $65,960 per year and there are about 1,036,450 of them employed today. Colleges and universities like Penn Foster Career School that provide online education are successfully launching workers into this field.

Typical Work Locations for a Business Writer
  • business magazine
  • financial company
  • business analyst firm
  • stock exchange
  • newspaper
  • finance website
  • risk assessment company
  • auditing firm
  • technology company
  • government department
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Business Writer
  • writer's business plan won't be shared with potential clients
  • have an objective view of what he or she can offer customers
  • writing articles and letters
  • answering emails and inquiries
  • meet new people
  • get paid well
  • get paid vacation
  • goal or objective is placed in black and white
  • be creative
  • be professional
Potential Drawbacks
  • late hours working
  • lots of studies before working
  • lots of stress
  • tough studies
  • travel long distance
  • working both day and night
  • high level of contradictions
  • competitions may happen
  • complicate works needed to be done
  • works may not be productive
Related Professions to Consider
  • The Business Writer's Handbook Ninth Edition
  • Rules of Thumb for Business Writers
  • Business Writer's Companion 5e & Essential Guide to Group Communication
  • The Craft & Business Of Writing
  • Rules of Thumb for Business Writers
  • My Check Writer Home & Business
  • The Well-Fed Writer
  • Pentel Rolling Writer Stick Roller Ball Pen Medium Point
  • Writers Digest
  • Business Plan Writer Deluxe
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Business Writer
  • How do approach research on a certain topic?
  • What points are a must in a pamphlet What should be avoided?
  • Can you tell me any one challenging task from your earlier job?
  • How long can you serve this company?
  • What are your expectations regarding salary Is the figure negotiable?
  • Do you think it is necessary to update your knowledge in this field How would you do so?
  • Are you comfortable working in a team?
  • Have you ever created any users guide Or something similar to it?
  • Why did you choose technical writing as your field?
  • How many documentations can you complete in a day?
Common Collaborating Professions
  • Report Writer
  • Investment Writer
  • Senior Investment Writer
  • Business Applications Developer
  • Senior Medical Writer
  • Business Analyst
  • Proposal Writer
  • Freelance Staff Writer
  • Technical Writer Job
  • Technical Writer
Business Writer Training books Business Writer (More) Popular books Potential Companies to Work For Common College Majors
  • English
  • Business Management
  • Journalism
  • Communications
  • Philosophy
  • Marketing
  • Business Administration
  • Finance
  • Human Resource Management
  • Accounting

Business Writer Salary Information

Category: Business operations specialists, all other

Total # Employed in the US 1,036,450
Average Hourly Wage: $31.71/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$15.77 $21.27 $29.14 $39.05 $50.65
Average Yearly Salary $65,960
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$32,800 $44,240 $60,610 $81,220 $105,350
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
1.9% 15.5% 23.1% 11.6% 32.3% 12.9% 2.7%
Business operations specialists, all other — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Florida $41.93/hr $87,210
Mississippi $36.61/hr $76,160
Montana $35.28/hr $73,380
Alaska $34.51/hr $71,790
Oklahoma $34.42/hr $71,590
Alabama $34.24/hr $71,230
Delaware $33.67/hr $70,030
Connecticut $33.23/hr $69,120
Colorado $33.23/hr $69,110
North Dakota $33.19/hr $69,030
Missouri $32.88/hr $68,390
Idaho $32.87/hr $68,380
Wyoming $32.76/hr $68,150
Utah $32.5/hr $67,600
Ohio $32.27/hr $67,130
Virginia $31.54/hr $65,600
Kansas $30.71/hr $63,880
Maine $30.63/hr $63,700
Arkansas $30.53/hr $63,500
Puerto Rico $30.27/hr $62,970
Guam $30.19/hr $62,800
Wisconsin $30.09/hr $62,590
South Dakota $30.02/hr $62,440
Oregon $29.67/hr $61,710
Hawaii $29.45/hr $61,260
West Virginia $29.44/hr $61,230
Pennsylvania $29.4/hr $61,150
District of Columbia $29.34/hr $61,030
South Carolina $29.25/hr $60,850
Indiana $29.17/hr $60,680
New Hampshire $29.06/hr $60,450
Kentucky $28.81/hr $59,910
New Mexico $28.31/hr $58,880
Nevada $28.03/hr $58,310
New York $27.98/hr $58,210
Michigan $27.88/hr $57,980
California $27.73/hr $57,680
Tennessee $27.72/hr $57,660
Maryland $27.69/hr $57,590
Iowa $26.92/hr $55,980
Washington $26.91/hr $55,970
North Carolina $26.57/hr $55,270
Massachusetts $26.38/hr $54,880
New Jersey $25.67/hr $53,400
Louisiana $25.52/hr $53,090
Nebraska $25.5/hr $53,040


Category: Public relations specialists

Total # Employed in the US 242,670
Average Hourly Wage: $28.55/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$14.67 $18.63 $24.98 $34.7 $46.46
Average Yearly Salary $59,370
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$30,520 $38,740 $51,960 $72,180 $96,630
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.8% 6.5% 11.9% 4.0% 55.3% 18.3% 3.2%
Public relations specialists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Florida $46.9/hr $97,550
Oklahoma $32.13/hr $66,820
Colorado $32.06/hr $66,690
Iowa $31.3/hr $65,100
Alaska $31.27/hr $65,030
Mississippi $30.2/hr $62,810
New York $29.92/hr $62,230
Missouri $29.74/hr $61,850
Connecticut $29.54/hr $61,440
Utah $29.45/hr $61,250
District of Columbia $28.48/hr $59,240
North Dakota $28.4/hr $59,080
Nebraska $28.27/hr $58,800
Ohio $28.23/hr $58,720
Tennessee $27.57/hr $57,350
Wyoming $27.56/hr $57,320
Virginia $27.44/hr $57,080
Delaware $27.43/hr $57,050
Kansas $27.38/hr $56,950
Hawaii $26.68/hr $55,490
Montana $26.46/hr $55,030
Indiana $26.03/hr $54,130
North Carolina $25.6/hr $53,240
Arkansas $25.41/hr $52,850
Idaho $25.29/hr $52,600
South Carolina $25.22/hr $52,450
New Hampshire $25.02/hr $52,040
Guam $24.33/hr $50,610
Oregon $24.22/hr $50,380
Michigan $24.11/hr $50,150
Maine $24.05/hr $50,030
Puerto Rico $23.14/hr $48,130
Massachusetts $22.83/hr $47,500
Wisconsin $22.59/hr $46,990
Pennsylvania $22.18/hr $46,130
Louisiana $22.15/hr $46,060
Washington $22.09/hr $45,950
Kentucky $22.02/hr $45,800
California $21.91/hr $45,570
South Dakota $21.9/hr $45,560
Alabama $21.56/hr $44,850
Maryland $21.41/hr $44,530
New Jersey $21.29/hr $44,270
New Mexico $20.62/hr $42,900
West Virginia $20.22/hr $42,050
Nevada $18.66/hr $38,810


Category: Technical writers

Total # Employed in the US 46,270
Average Hourly Wage: $31.55/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$17.82 $22.94 $30.16 $38.7 $48.09
Average Yearly Salary $65,610
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$37,070 $47,710 $62,730 $80,490 $100,020
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.8% 4.9% 14.1% 6.1% 48.9% 18.8% 6.4%
Technical writers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Missouri $38.41/hr $79,900
Colorado $38.4/hr $79,880
North Carolina $35.65/hr $74,150
Florida $34.76/hr $72,310
North Dakota $33.35/hr $69,360
Ohio $33.12/hr $68,890
Idaho $33.06/hr $68,760
Oklahoma $32.77/hr $68,160
Mississippi $32.69/hr $68,000
Connecticut $32/hr $66,570
Oregon $31.3/hr $65,100
Tennessee $30.86/hr $64,180
Nebraska $30.53/hr $63,510
Kansas $30.53/hr $63,500
Arkansas $29.94/hr $62,270
Alaska $29.84/hr $62,070
Utah $29.61/hr $61,580
Virginia $29.41/hr $61,180
Kentucky $29.12/hr $60,580
Wyoming $28.78/hr $59,860
District of Columbia $28.34/hr $58,940
Delaware $28.32/hr $58,910
Wisconsin $28.19/hr $58,640
Montana $27.86/hr $57,950
Louisiana $26.8/hr $55,750
Washington $26.73/hr $55,600
South Carolina $26.47/hr $55,050
Hawaii $26.36/hr $54,840
New Hampshire $26.36/hr $54,830
Iowa $25.84/hr $53,740
Maryland $25.65/hr $53,350
New York $25.63/hr $53,300
Guam $25.54/hr $53,120
Alabama $25.35/hr $52,730
Massachusetts $24.48/hr $50,920
New Mexico $24.09/hr $50,100
Maine $24.08/hr $50,090
Puerto Rico $23.45/hr $48,770
Michigan $23.36/hr $48,580
California $22.79/hr $47,410
Pennsylvania $21.49/hr $44,690
South Dakota $21.48/hr $44,680
Nevada $21.26/hr $44,220
West Virginia $21.16/hr $44,010
New Jersey $18.66/hr $38,800
Indiana $17.42/hr $36,220


Category: Copy Writers

Total # Employed in the US 43,390
Average Hourly Wage: $31.04/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$13.5 $18.63 $25.91 $36.41 $50.82
Average Yearly Salary $64,560
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$28,070 $38,760 $53,900 $75,740 $105,710
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.6% 3.4% 9.6% 3.2% 47.9% 26.2% 9.0%


Business Writing Programs by State & City