Professional copywriters are in great demand in copywriting, and you have a huge market as a playing field. This article will familiarize you with the different copywriter salary ranges. But before getting into copywriting, you have to ask yourself whether an average copywriting salary can replace the primary income from your regular job.

Ask yourself:

• How much do copywriters make?

• What level of copywriter salary can you expect to earn with your present copywriting skills?

• And, ultimately, will it pay the bills?

With this in mind, it’ll be best if you set your income goals. Do you want your sole income to come from copywriting, or do you want to look at your copywriting salary as a side income?

Copywriting salaries differ from country to country. You have to be realistic and determine the average income a copywriter can make in the country where you would be working.

What are the average copywriter salaries in different countries?

Let’s look at the average copywriting salaries in the USA, UK, Australia, and Canada. 

Remember that several other factors affect copywriter salaries, such as the size of the company a copywriter is working for, whether they’re a junior copywriter or senior copywriter, the location of the company in the country itself, and the industry the copywriter is engaged in.

How much do copywriters make in the USA?

Copywriters in the US can expect a base salary of $69,450. You can expect an additional cash compensation of $5,000, which takes the total to $74,450. 

However, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the hourly rate for the lowest, medium, and highest copywriter categories is $15 an hour, $30 an hour, and $55 an hour, respectively. This means the highest copywriter salary is $121,600 a year, the medium of $62,000 a year, and the lowest is $31,700 a year.

How much do copywriters make in the UK? 

The average salary of a copywriter is lower in the UK compared to the copywriter salaries in the US, starting from a low of £25,000 for junior copywriters and £30,000 for medium-level copywriters. Senior copywriters can expect to make around £45,000 or more.

How much do copywriters make in Australia?

Copywriters in Australia have higher average salaries than their counterparts in the US and UK. A junior copywriter can expect an average salary of $76,000 a year. The medium-level copywriters make around $87,000 annually, while the senior copywriters earn an average of $122,000. The copywriter's salaries are also subject to location and industry.

How much do copywriters make in Canada?

A junior copywriter in Canada with less than one year of experience can expect an annual salary of C$41,000. A medium-level copywriter can expect to earn C$57,000, while a senior copywriter can earn up to C$105,000. All these averages include tips, bonuses, and overtime pay.

Do copywriters in different branches and locations have different salaries?

Copywriter salary by location

Now that you’re familiar with the copywriter salaries you may expect, it’s time to find out your earning potential in different fields of copywriting. 

Whether you’re a 'write for fun' type of copywriter or a workaholic copywriter, how much you earn will greatly impact your life. 

The two main factors responsible for a copywriter's salary difference are location and experience. 

For example, a junior copywriter in a big city like New York can make $61,000 a year on average. In contrast, a junior copywriter in a smaller city will earn $42,000 a year.

At the same time, a senior copywriter in New York will make $93,000 a year, and if the same copywriter is based in a smaller city, he will earn $65,000 a year on average. 

Looking at these numbers, you can understand that a copywriter's salary in a small town is in a comfortable range, while in a bigger city, it’s a lucrative one (although living in a big city is more expensive). 

However, with the increase in remote working, the lines have blurred, and a copywriter can expect a good, big-city salary and still work wherever he wishes. 

Copywriter salary by different branches

As a copywriter, you can be one of these three:

• Agency copywriter

• In-house copywriter

• Freelance copywriter 

Copywriters usually start by working with an agency for a couple of years. They then move on to being an in-house copywriter. Later, when they have more experience, they may branch out on their own and work as a freelancer or have their own agency. 

Agency copywriter salary

Marketing and advertising agencies offer a great place to network and learn on the job. You can expect a good entry-level copywriter salary if you work for a competitive, successful agency. 

The average salary for a junior copywriter is $47,000, and a senior copywriter working for an agency can expect an average salary of $88,000 (both estimates are for the US).

There isn't much data on average senior copywriter salaries because copywriters rarely stay long enough with an agency to reach seniority levels.

In-house copywriter salary

Working as an in-house copywriter offers mid-career salaries. In-house copywriters usually move towards marketing. You can position yourself to get lucrative offers from competing firms for your skills. 

These days it is in the copywriter's best interests to move jobs to increase their salaries, as there are few chances of getting more than a couple of promotions. Also, the business you’re working for as an in-house copywriter won't think twice about letting you go for their financial benefit if they need to.

If you want a steady, long-term paycheck and you’re not ambitious enough to freelance or have your own agency, being an in-house copywriter could be the best job for you.

For the US, the average salary of a junior copywriter is $48,000 a year, and a senior copywriter can expect to make $85,000 a year.

Freelance copywriter salary

The possibility of remote work has made freelance copywriting more doable for copywriters. It’s ideal for a freelance copywriter to work at an agency initially to make contacts and gain experience. Freelancing may offer the highest pay with the least work for a copywriter.

But it’s best to remember that once you decide to freelance, you are on your own. There are no healthcare benefits, you have to pay full taxes, and no 401K matching/retirement contributions.

A freelance copywriter’s salary is not dependent on a copywriter's junior or senior level. It depends on how many products/services you can sell your copy.

While entry-level freelance copywriters struggle to make $20,000 a year, seasoned copywriters have been known to scale around $150,000 a year and more. 

Is copywriting for you? 

You’ve now become familiar with the common copywriter salaries and how they’re dependent on the copywriting type, the location you are based, and the industry you’re in. 

Before you dive into the vast field of copywriting, it’s in your best interests to crunch the numbers and set your income goals. 

Do you want to earn six figures, or are you just looking for a side income? 

Copywriting is suitable for every income goal, but you need to decide what that goal is and act accordingly.

Take action, explore high-paying copywriting jobs, and start your career as a professional copywriter.