Costs · Writing
What copywriting work costs (context, not a price list)
Page question. How should a buyer sanity-check copywriting quotes without inventing “average Gig prices”?
BLS scope. Writers and Authors wage data covers employees in that occupation. It is not a freelance copywriting rate survey. Self-employed specialists (CRO landing pages, email flows, technical white papers) often price far from the employee median.
BLS anchor (May 2025)
- Median annual wage for writers and authors: $76,910.
- Use the OOH profile for the definition of the occupation and pay percentiles.
Source: U.S. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Writers and Authors (checked Nov 5, 2026).
Budgeting tips that beat “per word” folklore
- Scope deliverables: page list, SEO constraints, interview time, revision rounds.
- Separate research-heavy thought leadership from short product blurbs.
- Add marketplace client fees via the fee comparison.
- Hire using where to hire a copywriter venue fit — not cost alone.
FAQ
Is $1/word a real market rate?
It is a folklore number, not a BLS statistic. Price from scoped deliverables and samples, then compare proposals.
Does the writers median include marketing copywriters?
OOH Writers and Authors is a broad occupation. Many marketing copy roles may be classified differently by employers. Treat the figure as context only.
Sources
- BLS OOH — Writers and Authors: www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/writers-and-authors.htm (checked Nov 5, 2026)
- Best Freelance Platforms — Fee comparison: bestfreelanceplatforms.com/articles/fee-comparison (checked Nov 5, 2026)
No affiliate links on this page. Figures change; re-check the official page before you rely on them.