How Much Does a Copywriter Earn?
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You might know what a copywriter does, but how much does a copywriter earn? If you’re interested in pursuing a career in copywriting, it’s important to be aware of your earning potential (and how it might change over time).
We’ve previously written about the average salary for a freelance writer. Today we’re going to focus specifically on how much a copywriter earns. We’ll discuss:
- Crucial factors that can impact your earnings as a copywriter
- How to set your rates as a beginner copywriter
- How your rates can change as you gain copywriting experience
- The average rates and salaries for freelance copywriters in the United States and United Kingdom
So, let’s explore copywriting rates and salaries!
What Determines How Much a Copywriter Earns?
Several factors can impact how much a copywriter earns:
1. Experience
It’s a well-known fact: The more experienced you are in a profession, the more you will earn. Junior copywriters typically earn less than their senior counterparts. While everyone has to start somewhere, it’s best to approach things with an attitude of “I want to gain experience.” As you build up that experience, you’ll notice your earnings start to increase. Patience makes all the difference!
2. Location
Like it or not, where you live and work influences your income. Freelancers in large cities or tech centers might be able to charge higher rates than those in smaller towns or regions. Most copywriting clients understand the expense of living in big cities, so you should tell them if you live in a metropolis like Los Angeles.
Working with international clients can open up better-paying opportunities, as you’re not limited by the typical rates in your geographic area. Plus, if you work internationally, your pool of clients will be larger – making it more likely you’ll land a high-paying project.
3. Full- or Part-Time Freelancing
It probably won’t come as a surprise that you’ll earn more if you freelance full-time. Full-time copywriters can dedicate more hours to their work, meaning they can often take on larger projects or more clients.
4. Qualifications
Are you a certified copywriter? If so, this can significantly increase your income because clients will be reassured that you know your copywriting stuff. While having a university degree helps, especially one related to copywriting, it isn’t mandatory. However, we do recommend formal training in copywriting to demonstrate credibility and competence.
5. Copywriting Type
The type of copywriting you offer can also affect your rates. A copywriter crafting long-form content, such as in-depth reports or articles, might charge more than one writing short social media posts or calls to action. Long-form content tends to demand a greater time investment from the writer, and producing a valuable piece of content requires a deep understanding of the subject matter – which means more extensive research and planning.
Additionally, copywriters who specialize in niches such as financial, legal, or technical writing often command higher rates. They can charge more because they need to understand highly specialized, complex terminology and translate it into language that non-experts can understand.
How to Set Freelance Copywriting Rates
Setting your rates can be challenging if you are new to freelance copywriting. You don’t want to undervalue your services, but you do want to remain competitive. When you’re just starting out, your rates will likely be lower. However, as you build experience (and start gathering glowing client testimonials!), you’ll be able to gradually increase them.
Per Hour, per Word, or per Project
Are you unsure if you should be charging by the hour, by the word, or per project? It’s completely up to you! There are pros and cons to each approach.
Charging per hour is a simple way to work out your rates, but it does mean you’ll need to tell your client exactly how long you think the project will take. More experienced copywriters tend to follow this approach, as they have a clear idea of how long different types of projects typically take them.
Charging per word makes it easier to give clients an estimated cost. However, it doesn’t take into account the complexity of the job or how long it may take.
Charging per project means that you can vary your rate depending on the scope and complexity of the project. You’ll receive the same pay regardless of how long the project takes to complete, so you don’t need to worry about tracking your hours or the word count. However, you’ll need to be careful not to underestimate the amount of work needed or fall victim to scope creep.
Beginner Rates
As we noted above, it’s normal for new freelance copywriters to start with low rates. This can be a good way to attract clients and build your portfolio. You could even consider offering your services for free, just for your first few clients, to help you gather those first few samples of your work along with some all-important feedback and testimonials.
As an example, Strategy Beam suggests a typical rate of $25–$50 per landing page or $0.50 per word for entry-level copywriters.
Mid-Level Rates
Once you’ve created an impressive portfolio and gained confidence in your copywriting skills, you can focus on landing better-paying clients and projects. You should have a few years freelancing experience at this stage.
For copywriters at this level, Strategy Beam suggests a rate of $50–$500 for a landing page or $0.50–$0.80 per word.
Experienced Rates
Experienced freelancers can charge premium rates, especially if they have extensive knowledge in niche or high-demand industries. Such copywriters often possess highly specialized skills and the ability to offer insight into areas such as marketing strategy and brand positioning.
Strategy Beam suggests that experienced copywriters can charge $500+ per landing page or $0.80+ per word.
How Much Do Freelance Copywriters Make?
Now, let’s explore the average annual salary for freelance copywriters in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.
1. United States
At the time of writing, Salary.com lists the median salary for US copywriters as $59,793 or $29 per hour. The lowest earners make around $47,300 annually ($23 per hour), while the top 90% of earners make around $75,701 ($36 per hour).
2. United Kingdom
At the time of writing, Talent.com lists the average annual income for copywriters as £41,860 or £21.47 per hour. Entry-level copywriters typically earn around £30,063, and those with plenty of experience might earn up to £81,673.
3. Australia
At the time of writing, Talent.com lists the average annual salary for copywriters in Australia as AU$93,251 or AU$47.87 per hour. Entry-level positions start at AU$77,638 per year, and the most experienced writers can earn up to AU$150,900 per year.
Becoming A Copywriter
Are you interested in learning more about how to become a copywriter? If so, consider our Becoming A Copywriter course. You’ll learn everything you need to know about writing client-attracting, high-converting web copy. You can learn at your own pace, free from pressure or deadlines, and have access to tutor support whenever you need it! It’s an ideal course for those new to copywriting because you don’t need previous skills or experience. Get an idea of what you can learn by trying the free lessons for this course.
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