Copywriter Jobs in the United States

Copywriting Jobs

Copywriters create advertising, marketing, and promotional content to increase sales and conversions. They may write persuasive slogans, video scripts, emails, website copy, brochures, and more that get shared via print, broadcast, and online media. Copywriters may work alone or with an advertising or marketing agency as they collaborate with or take direction from clients, editors, and creative directors. 

They can potentially work part-time or full-time hours wherever they have access to the internet. Many salaried copywriting jobs are office-based, but some copywriters work from home on a flexible schedule. 

Most copywriting jobs are based in large entertainment and media markets such as Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Washington, D.C.

What Is the Average Copywriter Salary?

While the median base salary for copywriting jobs is just under $60,000, your total compensation will depend on your level of talent and experience, your employer and location, and how much time you spend working. Although some copywriters may earn as little as $47,000, established professionals can earn much more. 

Some companies in high-cost areas like New York City pay senior copywriters six-figure salaries. Compensation tends to be highest in California, Washington state, and throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the U.S. The highest-paying copywriting niches are in the medical, legal, tech, and finance industries.

How to Find Copywriting Jobs That Fit You

Anyone who needs to market a product or service can benefit from hiring a good copywriter, and the field accommodates writers with a wide variety of interests. As you search for work, you’ll want to identify jobs that fit the creative talents and research, writing, and communication skills you already have. You’ll also need some awareness of how content marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) work as you write concise, appealing text for a target audience.

Start With Research

As you begin your search for copywriting jobs, make a list of companies that you want to work for and write down your short- and long-term career goals.

• Seek out mentors, attend networking events, and reach out to other professionals in the marketing and advertising fields to learn more about the real-world qualifications you need to do well.
• Look for companies with a culture, management style, and value system that suit your personality.
• To get a sense of each company’s character, visit their website and read their mission statement, blog, and careers section.
• Check out each company's presence on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.
• Keep tabs on the company’s reputation, track record, and news.

Observe and Ask Questions

When you land an interview, ask direct questions about the company culture and pay attention to how you’re treated. Ask about opportunities for advancing your career in marketing or advertising. You may eventually want to work as a creative director or social media manager, and tailoring your skills set can help you get there faster. Reach out to current and former employees for insights about benefits, compensation, and the day-to-day work environment.

Consider What You Want in a Job

Think about what you want most in a job, whether it’s flexible hours, working for a particular industry or a socially responsible company, earning as much as possible, or specializing in a particular type of deliverable. The right job should feel fulfilling, pay enough to meet your needs, and align with your values, goals, and lifestyle.

Match Jobs to Your Strengths

Once you’ve envisioned what a great job looks like, take steps to find the right opportunity.

• Search for available jobs that align with your skills and priorities.
• Review each job description carefully, and beware of unrealistic or unrelated work requirements.
• Take steps to acquire additional training, like an SEO or digital marketing certification course, to fill any gaps in your resume.
• Consider opportunities that align with your current qualifications, even if the job titles differ.
• Apply for several jobs as you proceed with your search.

How to Apply for Copywriting Jobs

As you prepare to apply for various copywriting positions, review the qualifications, skills, and salary ranges associated with each job title, then follow these steps as you complete your application.

Update Your Resume and Cover Letter

• Update your resume and ensure that it is compelling, accurate, and easy to read.
• Make sure your resume is targeted to the job you are applying for and includes action-oriented descriptions of your accomplishments and soft skills.
• Include high-value keywords like SEO copywriting, social media marketing, digital marketing, advertising, and web content writing that are associated with sought-after copywriting skills.
• Mirror the job ad’s wording in your copywriter's resume to show hiring managers how your experience aligns with their needs.
• Check your resume for typos, grammatical errors, incorrect contact information, and formatting mistakes.
• Follow the employer’s specific instructions and submit a cover letter, if required. Keep in mind that cover letters are especially important for writers, as they’re often the first writing sample a potential employer will read.

Not sure if you’ve nailed it? Consider using Monster’s resume writing service to help your application stand out from the crowd.

Curate Your Portfolio

Most employers will ask to see an online copywriting portfolio that shows off your versatility and writing style. Tailor your portfolio to suit the job requirements and provide samples of your best work. If possible, include links to published or paid work as evidence of your past success. Include different kinds of writing, like website copy, product descriptions, SEO writing, social media posts, and business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) content that is easy and fun to read. 

If you’re starting out, you can create samples by reframing old work or doing spec work. You can write for the job you want, create a marketing email for a charity or a friend’s business, or make a video advertisement for a dream client. Once you have assembled your samples, find a template that allows you to create targeted portfolios for each job or industry niche.

Create a Profile and Submit Your Application

To apply via Monster, you’ll need to visit our sign-up page to create an account and a personal profile. You can use your existing Google, Facebook, Apple, or email credentials and create a new password to get started.

Once you verify your account, you can upload your resume and cover letter. Be sure to check your application for errors, accuracy, and completeness. When your files are ready to go, click "Upload Resume" or drop in your files using Google Drive, Dropbox, or Microsoft OneDrive. Check your visibility settings to ensure that employers can easily find you, and you’ll be all set.

You can also use Monster’s resume-building tool, featured near the bottom of the page, to create a work profile. Click the "Build My Resume" button, then enter your work history, educational experience, and contact information as directed. After you set your visibility preferences, Monster will create a perfectly formatted, work- or education-focused resume just for you that you can download, save for later, or show to employers who browse our site.

How to Follow Up With an Employer

When you apply for or interview for copywriting jobs, you’ll want to follow up with every employer.

How to Follow Up After Your Interview

After your interview, ask when you can expect to hear news about your next steps. The following day, send a short, quick thank-you email to the hiring manager that includes one specific takeaway from the interview and expresses your desire to move forward. 

If you don’t receive a response by the expected date, wait a week to reach out unless you receive an offer from a different employer or receive good news that could influence their decision. Otherwise, sit tight, then send another follow-up letter to the hiring manager that reiterates your interest in the role, expresses the organization’s positive qualities, and offers to provide any additional useful information. Keep the note to three paragraphs or less, and tell the hiring manager that you are looking forward to their response.

How to Follow Up if You Don't Get the Job

If an interview goes fairly well but you don’t receive a job offer, you can send a brief request for constructive feedback. Thank the interviewer for their time and ask for specific information that might improve your chances if you apply for another role at the company.

Ensure Your Message Reaches Its Target

When you send your follow-up notes, make sure they reach their destination. You should be able to find the contact information for the interviewer or hiring manager in the directory on the company website. You can also reach out to the HR department or a contact you know within the company and ask them to point you in the right direction.

Interviewing Tips for Copywriting Jobs

As you interview for copywriting jobs, each employer will assess your work style, values, and interpersonal skills to determine if you fit the company culture. Show that you can communicate with, relate to, and understand team members, supervisors, and clients while asserting your own viewpoint.

Show Evidence of Your Competence

Interviewers want to know that you're capable of doing the job. They may ask you how you would shepherd a project toward timely approval or create copy in a tone that reflects a brand’s identity. Be prepared to answer questions about marketing and SEO knowledge. Show that you can provide structured, concise, and creative work that will capture and hold attention. 

If the employer asks you to provide any work in addition to your portfolio and an additional, short sample, be wary. Professionals do not work for free, and reputable, established companies should be able to assess your potential based on your samples.

Prepare to Answer Interview Questions

As you prepare to meet with the hiring manager, write out your answers to copywriter interview questions like these:

• Tell us about your copywriting background and experience.
• What marketing campaigns have you helped with? How did you contribute?
• How do you manage client relationships?

Prepare for and rehearse answers to the most relevant interview questions, and ask people you know to point out your strengths and weaknesses.

Ask How the Interview Process Works

If you know someone at the company, ask them how the company’s interview process works so you’ll feel ready to ace the meeting when you walk in the door. Be a good listener; you should do no more than 50% of the speaking during your interview. Remember that you will work best with an employer who can meet your needs, so be sure to ask questions about the work environment and the role. You may want to request a tour of the site and meet with your potential supervisor or team members.

What to Do When You Get an Offer

When you get a job offer, you should respond to the employer by email within 48 hours. Express gratitude and enthusiasm for the opportunity. A good offer should be easy to accept in a few days. In most cases, you will need to decide whether or not you will take the job in less than a week. Let the employer know you’re taking time to review the particulars, and if you’re comparing offers from other employers or weighing a move to another city, ask for more time.

Negotiating Your Salary and Benefits

When you’re considering an offer, be prepared to negotiate your salary and benefits. Research salary ranges for copywriting jobs in your area and keep a salary range in mind. Let the employer bring up compensation first, and be ready to answer salary questions with a number that is near the top of your range. If the offer seems low, don’t be afraid to ask for more money.

Tips for a Successful Salary Negotiation

As you negotiate, show the hiring manager that you’re serious about the position and make the case that meeting your requests can help both you and the company. If the employer is unwilling to offer you a better salary, try to ask for other benefits, like vacation days or time working from home. Don't forget to ask about health insurance and other work-related perks. 

Try to show a willingness to help the hiring manager resolve any issue that is preventing the negotiation from moving forward. Be prepared to answer difficult questions honestly without being defensive or giving up too much bargaining power. 

Also remember that money isn’t everything; working in a healthy, supportive environment can improve your quality of life. If you are just starting your career or entering a new field, making concessions could put you in a stronger position later.

Copywriting Career Paths

Entry-level copywriting jobs can lead to many exciting careers in marketing, advertising, and content creation. Beginners often start out creating B2B or B2C marketing copywriting, display ads, social media copywriting, and promotional video scripts before specializing in a few skill sets or writing for a particular industry or niche. 

A comprehensive yet focused and cohesive portfolio that incorporates problem-solving and storytelling skills will help you move forward into direct response, technical, public relations, thought leadership, and brand copywriting. Agency copywriters may serve several clients, while corporate copywriters tend to write in-house, brand-specific content. 

Experienced copywriters tend to progress in their careers from junior to senior-level copywriters. They may then become creative directors, social media managers, marketing directors, or digital marketing directors. Top performers can become regional or senior marketing directors in less than ten years. Other copywriters choose to move on to roles in adjacent fields such as UI/UX design or content marketing strategy.

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