Becoming a Writer via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Full Sail University, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering writing courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
writers,
reporters,
journalists,
technical writers,
novelists,
creative writers,
storytellers,
poets, 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.
Technical writers make on average $65,610
per year and there are about 46,270
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Full Sail University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Writer
- Advertising Agency
- Direct Mail Company
- Publishing House
- Hospital
- Insurance Company
- University
- Movie Production Agency
- Freelance
- Newspaper
- Community College
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Writer
- Not demanding
- Great income
- Flexible working hours
- Work from home
- Respectable
- Freetime to spend with family
- Learn alot
- Inflict your opinion on the world
- Affect public opinion
- Create new ideas
Potential Drawbacks
- poor financial compensation
- rejection of work
- lonely lifestyle and less social interaction
- difficulty in selling what you have written
- lots of criticisms from readers and critics
- more hard work
- long hours of work
- need to do extensive research work for information
- more start up cost
- job stress
Related Professions to Consider
- Technical Writer
- Journalist
- Reporter/Writer
- Content Writer
- Article Writer
- Temporary Proposal Writer
- Grant Writer
- Senior Writer
- PSO Script Writer
- Creative Services Writer
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Writer
- What conceptual and analytical skills do you possess?
- What have your written?
- Can you give an example of an essay you have written?
- In what way will you contribute to our company?
- Have you been published?
- How do you see yourself a year from now?
- Why do you want join our writing team?
- What did you study in school?
- What three things should you do to get the job?
- What is your level of education?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Researchers
- Writers
- Business Administrators
- Screen writers
- Musicians
- Producers
- Play writes
- Singers
- Marketing companies
- Illustrators
Writer Training books
Writer (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- English
- History
- Philosophy
- Psychology
- Education
- Anthropology
- Sociology
- Art History
- Criminology
- Literature
Writer Salary Information
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
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average 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: Writers and authors
| 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% |
|
Writers and authors — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Colorado |
$42.11/hr
|
$87,600
|
| Oklahoma |
$40.48/hr
|
$84,200
|
| Florida |
$37.42/hr
|
$77,820
|
| Alaska |
$33.59/hr
|
$69,860
|
| Delaware |
$33.38/hr
|
$69,440
|
| Connecticut |
$31.52/hr
|
$65,570
|
| Mississippi |
$31.37/hr
|
$65,260
|
| Virginia |
$31.3/hr
|
$65,110
|
| Arkansas |
$30.29/hr
|
$63,000
|
| Kansas |
$30.28/hr
|
$62,990
|
| New York |
$30.19/hr
|
$62,790
|
| Missouri |
$30.14/hr
|
$62,690
|
| North Dakota |
$29.57/hr
|
$61,500
|
| Nebraska |
$27.56/hr
|
$57,320
|
| District of Columbia |
$27.31/hr
|
$56,810
|
| Wyoming |
$26.9/hr
|
$55,960
|
| Indiana |
$26.37/hr
|
$54,850
|
| Ohio |
$25.89/hr
|
$53,860
|
| New Mexico |
$25.69/hr
|
$53,440
|
| New Hampshire |
$25.69/hr
|
$53,430
|
| Idaho |
$25.68/hr
|
$53,420
|
| Utah |
$25.57/hr
|
$53,190
|
| Oregon |
$25.31/hr
|
$52,650
|
| North Carolina |
$25.09/hr
|
$52,180
|
| Michigan |
$24.81/hr
|
$51,610
|
| South Carolina |
$24.7/hr
|
$51,380
|
| Tennessee |
$24.23/hr
|
$50,400
|
| Nevada |
$23.01/hr
|
$47,860
|
| Washington |
$22.98/hr
|
$47,800
|
| Montana |
$22.83/hr
|
$47,480
|
| Hawaii |
$22.69/hr
|
$47,190
|
| California |
$22.5/hr
|
$46,800
|
| Alabama |
$22.46/hr
|
$46,710
|
| Maine |
$21.93/hr
|
$45,610
|
| Puerto Rico |
$21.16/hr
|
$44,010
|
| Louisiana |
$20.69/hr
|
$43,040
|
| New Jersey |
$20.55/hr
|
$42,740
|
| Wisconsin |
$19.82/hr
|
$41,220
|
| Massachusetts |
$19.53/hr
|
$40,620
|
| South Dakota |
$19.32/hr
|
$40,180
|
| Kentucky |
$19.29/hr
|
$40,120
|
| Maryland |
$19.23/hr
|
$39,990
|
| West Virginia |
$18.63/hr
|
$38,750
|
| Iowa |
$18.18/hr
|
$37,820
|
| Pennsylvania |
$15.65/hr
|
$32,560
|
Category: Gaming and sports book writers and runners
| Total # Employed in the US |
14,790 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$11.28/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $7.33 |
$8.18 |
$9.78 |
$13.0 |
$18.0 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$23,460 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $15,250 |
$17,020 |
$20,350 |
$27,040 |
$37,440 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 9.8% |
35.8% |
32.9% |
7.8% |
11.8% |
1.6% |
0.3% |
|
Gaming and sports book writers and runners — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| District of Columbia |
$16.25/hr
|
$33,800
|
| Alaska |
$16.18/hr
|
$33,660
|
| Colorado |
$14.75/hr
|
$30,670
|
| Kansas |
$14.35/hr
|
$29,850
|
| Maryland |
$14.21/hr
|
$29,550
|
| Kentucky |
$13.56/hr
|
$28,210
|
| Montana |
$12.72/hr
|
$26,470
|
| Hawaii |
$12.25/hr
|
$25,470
|
| South Carolina |
$11.59/hr
|
$24,110
|
| South Dakota |
$11.34/hr
|
$23,580
|
| North Dakota |
$11.18/hr
|
$23,250
|
| Wyoming |
$11.06/hr
|
$23,000
|
| Louisiana |
$10.65/hr
|
$22,150
|
| New York |
$10.45/hr
|
$21,740
|
| Alabama |
$10.31/hr
|
$21,450
|
| Tennessee |
$10.27/hr
|
$21,360
|
| Arkansas |
$10.16/hr
|
$21,140
|
| West Virginia |
$9.89/hr
|
$20,570
|
| Pennsylvania |
$9.87/hr
|
$20,530
|
| Utah |
$9.56/hr
|
$19,890
|
| Ohio |
$9.54/hr
|
$19,840
|
| Michigan |
$9.53/hr
|
$19,820
|
| Massachusetts |
$9.42/hr
|
$19,590
|
| Nevada |
$9.37/hr
|
$19,480
|
| New Mexico |
$9.36/hr
|
$19,460
|
| Nebraska |
$9.32/hr
|
$19,390
|
| Washington |
$8.74/hr
|
$18,180
|
| New Jersey |
$8.69/hr
|
$18,070
|
| Mississippi |
$8.52/hr
|
$17,720
|
| Oregon |
$7.26/hr
|
$15,110
|
Category: Proofreaders and copy markers
| Total # Employed in the US |
14,050 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$15.63/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $8.56 |
$11.07 |
$14.76 |
$19.38 |
$24.13 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$32,500 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $17,810 |
$23,020 |
$30,700 |
$40,320 |
$50,190 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 3.0% |
19.2% |
20.9% |
7.0% |
35.3% |
13.0% |
1.6% |
|
Proofreaders and copy markers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Missouri |
$19.63/hr
|
$40,830
|
| Virginia |
$19.02/hr
|
$39,560
|
| Kansas |
$18.81/hr
|
$39,130
|
| Florida |
$18.15/hr
|
$37,760
|
| Colorado |
$17.93/hr
|
$37,280
|
| Mississippi |
$17.34/hr
|
$36,060
|
| Oklahoma |
$17.27/hr
|
$35,930
|
| North Dakota |
$17.13/hr
|
$35,630
|
| Connecticut |
$16.85/hr
|
$35,050
|
| Guam |
$16.22/hr
|
$33,750
|
| Oregon |
$15.84/hr
|
$32,940
|
| New York |
$15.78/hr
|
$32,810
|
| Puerto Rico |
$15.41/hr
|
$32,060
|
| Utah |
$15.32/hr
|
$31,870
|
| Montana |
$15.28/hr
|
$31,780
|
| Washington |
$15.17/hr
|
$31,560
|
| Delaware |
$15.1/hr
|
$31,420
|
| Alabama |
$15.09/hr
|
$31,390
|
| North Carolina |
$14.99/hr
|
$31,180
|
| Nebraska |
$14.98/hr
|
$31,160
|
| Nevada |
$14.69/hr
|
$30,550
|
| South Carolina |
$14.6/hr
|
$30,370
|
| Hawaii |
$14.53/hr
|
$30,230
|
| Maryland |
$14.4/hr
|
$29,940
|
| Tennessee |
$14.3/hr
|
$29,740
|
| Wisconsin |
$14.29/hr
|
$29,720
|
| New Hampshire |
$14.15/hr
|
$29,430
|
| Michigan |
$13.8/hr
|
$28,710
|
| Louisiana |
$13.71/hr
|
$28,520
|
| Idaho |
$13.65/hr
|
$28,400
|
| Wyoming |
$13.29/hr
|
$27,650
|
| Kentucky |
$13.09/hr
|
$27,230
|
| Iowa |
$12.97/hr
|
$26,990
|
| New Mexico |
$12.21/hr
|
$25,400
|
| California |
$12.2/hr
|
$25,370
|
| Maine |
$12.13/hr
|
$25,220
|
| South Dakota |
$11.92/hr
|
$24,790
|
| Arkansas |
$10.35/hr
|
$21,520
|
| Pennsylvania |
$9.37/hr
|
$19,480
|
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% |
|
Category: Poets, Lyricists and Creative 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% |
|
