Freelance Writer Jobs: Career and Salary Facts
Freelance writers are self-employed writers who submit articles, stories and essays to various publications including websites, magazines and newspapers. If you love language and words and enjoy conveying information, this may be the career for you. Keep reading to find out more. Schools offering English Reading & Writing degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
What Types of Educational Programs are Available?
There is no single accepted educational pathway to becoming a writer. Educational programs that can help prepare you for a future of freelance writing include English, communications or journalism. You may also want to consider a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree program in creative writing or a bachelor's program in technical writing.
Each of the above-mentioned degree programs should help you to be a better writer and communicator. These degrees may also help you develop a portfolio of written work that you can use to show potential employers that you have what it takes.
What Do I Need in Addition to My Degree?
With some freelance writing positions, you'll need more than just an education. If you want to write about a specialized area of knowledge or experience, you'll need to know what you are talking about. For example, a scientific journal looking to hire freelance writers to submit articles for their publication will expect applicants to be familiar with the esoteric and exacting language of science. To be a successful freelance writer, you should have a broad base of experience, knowledge and interests. You should also be creative, curious and self-motivated.
What Could I Expect to Earn?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment opportunities for writers and editors were expected to grow by 8% between 2008 and 2018 (www.bls.gov). The BLS also states that this job growth is due, in part, to the increasing demand for Web content. Therefore, freelance writers with Web and multimedia experience should encounter the most favorable employment opportunities.
The website Payscale.com reports that the middle half of freelance technical writers earned an hourly wage ranging from $25.09 to $50.34 as of 2011. The BLS states that the median annual salary for all writers was $53,900 as of May, 2009. This salary range includes freelance writers but also other writers, such as novelists and textbook writers. California and New York were the two top paying states for this occupation.
To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:
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