What do they do?

Create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics, for publication or performance.

Also known as:

Author, Book Author, Children's Book Author, Creative Writer, Fiction Author, Freelance Writer, Librettist, Lyricist, Novelist, Poet, Songwriter, Writer

Typical Wages

Projected Growth Rate

Employment of Writers and Authors is projected to Decline 2 percent from 2020 to 2030

Projected Employment in OH

No Data Available
  • -2.3%

    Change

    Ranks #59 in job growth rate
    320

    Job Openings

    Ranks #19 in net job growth

Best colleges for Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

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Education Level

Percent of workers in this field with these degrees:

  • Doctorate or Professional Degree  (8%)
  • Master's degree  (27%)
  • Bachelor's degree  (49%)
  • Associate's degree  (3%)
  • Some college, no degree  (8%)
  • High school diploma equivalent  (4%)
  • Less than high school diploma  (1%)

Typical College Majors

Most Popular Majors that prepare Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Select Type of Degree:

  • #1
    • Degrees Granted

      28,235
    • Female Students

      17,824
    • Male Students

      10,411
    • Median Starting Salary

      $40,000
  • #2
    • Degrees Granted

      8,888
    • Female Students

      5,948
    • Male Students

      2,940
    • Median Starting Salary

      $40,700
  • #3
    • Degrees Granted

      8,008
    • Female Students

      4,951
    • Male Students

      3,057
    • Median Starting Salary

      $40,000
  • #4
    • Degrees Granted

      2,957
    • Female Students

      2,195
    • Male Students

      762
    • Median Starting Salary

      $38,900
  • #5
    • Degrees Granted

      1,435
    • Female Students

      899
    • Male Students

      536
    • Median Starting Salary

      $38,900

People in this career often have these skills:

  • Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

People in this career often know a lot about:

  • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
  • Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

People in this career often have talent in:

  • Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
  • Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
  • Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

People in this career often do these activities:

  • Write material for artistic or entertainment purposes.
  • Edit written materials.
  • Discuss production content and progress with others.
  • Determine presentation subjects or content.
  • Conduct research to inform art, designs, or other work.
  • Coordinate artistic activities.
  • Obtain copyrights or other legal permissions.
  • Promote products, activities, or organizations.
  • Collaborate with others to prepare or perform artistic productions.
  • Train others on work processes.

This page includes data from:

O*NET OnLine Career data: O*NET 28.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (“USDOL/ETA”). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Logo Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics

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