Last Updated on September 2, 2024
Writing is an essential skill that humans have used for thousands of years to record their history, share their stories and communicate with each other. Today, writing is even more important, as we live in a highly digital world of emails, texts, posts and messages. Anyone who wants to write for a living needs a degree in creative writing, whether they want to be a novelist or a blogger.
People who write regularly require additional talents as well, including grammatical knowledge and the ability to translate their work for international readers. The degree can help you develop these skills along with the writing techniques needed to tell a story or sell a product, which you had to master through such an unimaginable number of essay projects, that you had to go online to find someone to write your essays for you. It’s all part of the process of studying. If you are contemplating earning this major, you should spend some time becoming familiar with the many jobs with creative writing degree.
Here of creative writing degree jobs that graduates may be able to pursue.
1. Content Writer/Author
If you are creative and have a well of stories to tell, then careers that involve writing could be for you. Content writers create written content for websites, blogs, company brochures, social media posts, advertisements and more. The stories they tell can be both factual (to inform readers) or fictional (to engage them). To be a content writer, you will need a degree in creative writing, as well as a knowledge of relevant technology, such as desktop publishing software.
- Average salary: is $20.36 per hour in United States or $52,272 per year.
- Irregular work schedule.
- Office/Freelancer.
2. Ghostwriter
Ghostwriters are in high demand, and not just for celebrities and business executives. Increasingly, busy professionals and families are hiring ghostwriters to help them create books, blogs and other written content celebrating their lives and careers. You will need to know how to bring your clients’ ideas to life while maintaining their voice and integrity.
A ghostwriter may freelance or work directly for a publisher or other content creator. Other options include work for an agency that manages the whole process of ghostwriting. Ghostwriters may specialize in a particular subject, such as cookbooks or children’s books, or they may write on a variety of topics.
- Average salary: is $25 per hour in United States or $55,753 per year.
- Irregular work schedule
- Office/Freelancer
3. Editor
Publishing editors review manuscripts or other content before it is submitted to publications or a website. They also may oversee other writers and ensure that editorial policies and standards are followed. A creative writing degree will teach you the skills needed to complete these tasks, as well as give you an insider’s view of the publishing industry.
The publishing industry can be a competitive place, so it’s a good idea to get a foot in the door with an internship or volunteer work. Editors also may be able to move into a publisher role, which involves managing the entire publishing operation of a company.
- Average salary: is $36 per hour in United States or $66,300 per year.
- Irregular work schedule
- Office/Freelancer
4. Speechwriter
Speechwriters are in demand anywhere where politicians and other leaders make important public speeches. At the national or global level, speechwriters help leaders craft major addresses that will shape the public perception and even policy around international crises and social issues. At the local level, they create speeches for important ceremonies and events. You can go for this if you possess bachelors in creative writing jobs.
Beyond the basic skills of fact-finding and eloquent expression, the expert speechwriter will know how to craft a speech that will deliver a compelling message, sustain a consistent tone and serve the larger goals of its audience.
- Average salary: is $56 per hour in United States or $142,466 per year.
- Irregular work schedule
- Office
5. Digital Copywriter
This is among the creative writing major jobs. Digital copywriters specialize in writing web content, landing pages and email marketing materials. They write to persuade a reader to take a specific action, such as purchasing a product or signing up for a newsletter. As such, copywriting is an essential component of online marketing and e-commerce efforts.
To become a copywriter, you’ll need to have a solid foundation in basic writing skills, as well as some experience or special interest in the niche you plan to specialize in. It’s essential for copywriters to constantly stay up-to-date with industry trends and new technologies.
- Average salary: is $26 per hour in United States or $58,723 per year.
- Irregular work schedule
- Office/Freelancer
6. Technical Writer
With advancements in AI and automation, more and more companies are utilizing written instructions to help automate tasks and teach computers how to perform work traditionally done by humans. Technical writers are needed to develop these instructional manuals, websites and web pages that explain how things work. A creative writing degree can help you excel at this career, provided you also have strong technical skills (like a background in computer programming).
Technical writing may be done freelance, that will require a lot of self motivation, or you may work as a full-time employee for a company. Experienced technical writers may pursue opportunities for project management or Lead Writer roles.
- Average salary: is $37 per hour in United States or $78,060 per year.
- Irregular work schedule
- Office/Freelancer
7. Social Media Specialist
As a social media specialist, you will help create and maintain the online presence of a company or individual. This means creating and posting content to social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, as well as managing the profile information for your client. Specialists may work independently or as part of a larger team. Working independently means you’ll need the creativity to come up with consistent content to post, as well as the technical knowledge to manage your social media sites effectively. Working as a team means you’ll need to be able to coordinate with other members of the team to create and distribute content.
This position will require strong skills in marketing, communications, and technology. You’ll need to know how to research and write compelling content, as well as how to market a brand through social media.
- Average salary: is $20 per hour in United States or $44,403 per year.
- Regular hours + overtime
- Office/Freelancer
8. Cultural Consultant
A growing trend in business today is to deliver content that is relevant, interesting and inspiring to your audience. Cultural consulting involves researching popular trends and current events, as well as historical context, in order to provide insights into how a given message will be received and resonate with a particular audience.
The career of cultural consulting is useful for organizations that need to communicate a message in a certain context; for example, a museum may need to tell about an upcoming exhibit in a way that’s engaging and informative, or a university — about its upcoming events in a manner that’s exciting and relevant to students. Professionals in cultural consulting specialize in researching and delivering contextual content for their organizations. You can go for this if you have chosen creative writing as a career.
- Average salary: is $31 per hour in United States or $65,944 per year.
- Regular hours + overtime
- Office/Freelancer
9. Critic
With the rise of food shows, celebrity cooking shows and food festivals, food criticism is growing in popularity. Anyone interested in writing about food — not just reviewing restaurants, but also sourcing and cooking unique foods — could benefit from a creative writing degree. Food critics need to have a deep knowledge of the culinary world in order to write compelling reviews that attract readers.
In addition to food reviews, a creative writing degree can help you become a wine, beer or spirits critic — these culinary staples often go unnoticed until they negatively affect a meal. A critic writes with a keen eye for detail, recording the experience in a way that educates as it entertains.
Other opportunities for critics include entertainment reviews (think music festivals and art exhibitions). Critics may work independently or for a publication, and may also seek freelance work.
- Average salary: is $18 per hour in United States or $38,902 per year.
- Regular hours + overtime
- Office/Freelancer
10. Translator
This is one of the jobs for writing majors. With so much international business being done, translators are vital to the operation of any company. From multinational corporations to small family-owned firms, companies rely on translators to facilitate communication between English-speaking clients and employees and their counterparts in other countries. Translation is also necessary when materials from research and other sources need to be translated into English for use by personnel at the company. So if you have a creative writing degree, and you’d like to transfer your skills into a real job, consider becoming a translator.
- Average salary: is $25 per hour in United States or $56,272 per year.
- Regular hours + overtime
- Office/Freelancer
11. Songwriter
If you can sing or play an instrument, a creative writing degree can help you channel your creative energy into songwriting. Many popular songs are written from a personal perspective, and the degree can help you develop the skill set needed to craft compelling songs. Songwriters write original songs as well as cover songs; cover songs are popular with bands looking to preserve a unique sound while maintaining copyright protections.
For careers with writing, it can be a full-time or a side hustle — it all depends on your goals.
- Average salary: is $41 per hour in United States or $84,260 per year.
- Regular hours + overtime
- Office/Freelancer
12. Email Marketing Specialist
If you love sending (and getting) emails, a career as an email marketer could be a good fit. Email marketers create and send promotional email messages for a brand, product or service; this career requires the ability to write in a conversational yet compelling manner. Most businesses hope their customers read and act on the content of these emails.
Earning a degree in creative writing might give you a leg up in the field; email marketers must have strong writing and analytical skills, as well as the capacity to quickly determine which customers want which emails. Most email marketing positions are full time, though freelancing opportunities in this area may be available.
- Average salary: is $30 per hour in United States or $59,145 per year.
- Regular hours + overtime
- Office/Freelancer
13. Columnist
This is among the best jobs for writers. The columnist option demonstrates the wide variety of career opportunities. Columnists write articles of varying length on a given topic; the length and number of columns are most often determined by the publication for which they’re writing. Some popular columnists include writers of satire, advice, commentary and news.
A creative writing degree helps columnists hone the critical thinking, research and writing skills they need to put together quality content. The length of a column is dependent on its subject and the type of publication it’s being released in — but whatever the length, you’ll need to ensure your writing is concise, engaging and persuasive. Column writing is a career for freelancers; most writers who want to make a living through it will need to self-promote and market their services.
- Average salary: is $19.86 per hour in United States or $41,823 per year.
- Regular hours + overtime
- Office/Freelancer
14. Video Games Screenwriter
This can be classified among the art writing jobs. Games are becoming an ever more popular form of entertainment; many video games include scripted cut scenes, dialogue and other parts that require the help of screenwriters. If you’re a fan of video games and movies, a screenwriting career may be the right choice for you. This job involves imagining and writing the dialogue, narration and character backstories.
Screenwriters need strong critical thinking skills, along with the ability to imagine the scene they’re writing. Most of them enter this career through self-promotion and networking – after all, most screenwriters are huge fans of video games themselves! Screenwriting is a fast-paced career that’s always changing, and you need to be agile enough to keep up.
- Average salary: is $30 per hour in United States or $60,250 per year.
- Regular hours + overtime
- Office/Freelancer
15. Advertising Copywriter
Advertising copywriters are responsible for writing the text used in advertisements. This includes creating an image for a brand through written word. Though advertising copywriters specialize in advertising, their skills are useful for any type of copywriting, including web and email content, and promotional and marketing materials.
The ad copywriter role is similar to that of a journalist; they have to quickly digest large amounts of information and accurately represent a brand while maintaining an engaging, persuasive voice. Copywriters who excel in this field possess excellent grammatical and writing skills, as well as a keen sense of how to effectively market a product.
- Average salary: is $25 per hour in United States or $53,526 per year.
- Regular hours + overtime
- Office/Freelancer
FAQ
Can you pursue further education in creative writing and work?
Yes, you can. While a degree in creative writing isn’t a necessary entry-level requirement for many jobs, it does provide a great foundation for other career paths.
What skills do you need to become successful?
Creative thinking, problem-solving, tact and the ability to see things from different perspectives are just a few of the necessary skills required to pursue a successful career in writing.
Who hires professionals with creative writing degrees?
Aside from positions within schools and universities, writers with creative writing degrees can find employment with video game and software companies, entertainment companies, websites that feature user-generated content, publications, magazines, advertising agencies and nonprofit organizations.
How much does a Creative Writer make?
The salary of a creative writer depends on their experience and the industry in which they work. The median income of writers in the United States is $41,440 per year, according to PayScale. This falls right in the middle of the pay scale, making creative writing a viable career for many professionals.
