Where the Writing Money Is

You may already have a pre-conceived notion of what type of work a writer does.

In the past, if you told someone that you were a writer they would probably think that you had written a book or wrote a column in a newspaper or magazine.

In this Internet savvy age, many writers create content for websites. A few writers who do this believe that web content creation is where most of the writing opportunities are today.

While it is true that there is a huge demand for web content, there are still many other opportunities for writers.

Writing in Corporate America

As someone who wrote for corporations for many years, I know that there are high paying writing opportunities in the corporate world that many writers don’t think about when they are starting out. In general, these opportunities pay more than the average web content job and are longer term.

Companies use writers in ways that you may not even realize. The average annual pay for the positions listed below ranges from around $29,000 for an inexperienced writer to over $100,000 for a person experienced in that type of writing.

To learn more about pay for a specific writing field, check a source like Payscale or Salary.com. (Those are the sources that I used.) Also, many professional societies conduct their own salary research.

12 High Paying Writing Jobs

Here are a dozen writing jobs that you may not have thought about:

1. Technical communicator–A technical communicator creates materials to help the customer who purchase a high technology product (hardware or software). A professional society for technical communicators is the STC.
2. Instructional designer–An instructional designer designs effective training materials to help students master a particular subject. A professional society for instructional designers is ASTD.
3. Marketing communications–A company’s marketing communications may write advertising copy, press releases, or even sales proposals. A professional society for marketing communications professionals is AMCP.
4. Editing— An editor may find themselves working in a publishing company evaluating books or magazines before they go to press or, an editor may work privately for a writer or celebrity to help them develop their book. A professional society for editors is the ACES.
5. Medical writer–Medical writers create documents that have to do with medicine and health. A professional society for medical writers is AMWA.
6. Science writer–Science writers may work for scientific publications or create articles on science for general publications. A professional society for science writers is NASW.
7. Financial writer–Financial writers create articles and web content that addresses financial, economic, or tax-related topics. A professional society for financial writers is NYFWA.
8. Grant writers–Grant writers help entities such as non-profits and educational institutions apply for federal and private grants. A professional society for grant writers is AGWA.
9. Speechwriters–Speechwriters create speeches for other individuals, such as politicians or prominent individuals, to deliver. I couldn’t find a professional association for speechwriters. If you know of one, why not share?
10. Copywriter–Copywriters write the words used to promote and advertise products or services. A professional association for copywriters is AAAA.
11. Script writer–A script writer creates scripts for television, radio, and movies. A professional association for script writers is WGAW.
12. Writing teacher–Many writers find a rewarding career teaching writing skills to high school or college age students. A professional association for English teachers is NCTE.

(For more helpful information on various types of writing positions, you should also check out Deb’s post, 30 Types of Freelance Writing Jobs and How to Get Them.)

Good News for Freelancers

The good news for freelancers is that every one of these writing fields is open to qualified freelance writers. When I worked in a corporation as a technical writer, we often brought in independent contractors to help out on specific projects. Even now, I have several business clients who send me recurring gigs writing and updating training materials.

Earlier, I wrote about how you may have to offer more to earn more. In the coming weeks, I’ll share more about the type of freelance writers that companies look for and what kind of companies are most likely to hire freelance writers. I’ll also draw upon my own experience as a technical writer, training developer, marketing communications specialist, and editor.

Feedback Time

What corporate writing position sounds most interesting to you?

Do you have corporate clients right now? What type of writing do you do for them?

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