Copywriting seems like a fun job…but is copywriting a good career? Here we explore the truth behind copywriter job satisfaction and get into the nitty gritty of what the day-to-day life is like.
First, let’s talk a little about what copywriting entails. In the broadest terms, it involves taking a company’s offering and creating a way to convey that to its target audience in a way that will make the target audience want to take action. It involves connecting people who have a need or problem with the solution to that need or problem.
The way that copywriters go about doing that is exploring the project from every possible angle and working with their design partners to achieve that special insight that makes a piece resonate with just the right people.
But now to the actual job satisfaction element. Obviously, job satisfaction is going to depend on one’s employer (there are crummy bosses in any industry). But, overall, copywriters’ job satisfaction is very high. This is based on the results of an internet search to balance the bias as well as interviews with my copywriter contacts.
Here are a few reasons why copywriting is such a good career.
Copywriting Work Is Rewarding
Creative industries always tend to be among the highest in job satisfaction; many people would trade more money for the opportunity to be more creative, but people in the creative industry don’t have to make that trade-off. Creatives get to be creative as well as well-paid.
Copywriters find their work stimulating and challenging and appreciate the variety.
Copywriters get to work with graphic designers as well as with people in nearly every function of a company: product managers, developers, production people, marketing managers, buyers, etc. No day is the same, and no project is the same.
They like working with people from many different areas of a company and appreciate the opportunity to learn new things. They especially enjoy the opportunity to use their creativity on a daily basis and put their creations out into the world in a meaningful way.
Worried you’re not “creative” enough? Learn more about what we mean by creativity >>
Copywriting Is a Well-Paid Career
Copywriters are, by far, the best-paid types of writers (taking out outliers like JK Rowling or Malcolm Gladwell). Even outside of writers, copywriters among some of the most well-paid professionals in any field.
While money isn’t everything, job satisfaction certainly increases when you feel like you are valued for your work. As a trained copywriter, you help your clients move their businesses forward. That is rewarding in and of itself. But that also means clients are more than willing to compensate you for the work you do. Our services are valuable!
Learn more about how much copywriters make >>
Copywriters Have Relatively High Job Security
The consistently growing need for more and better copywriters also means that high job security gets factored into their satisfaction.
As of 2019, there were 32.5 million businesses in the United States alone. Plus, there were 1.5 million nonprofits. Add to that, more than half a million new businesses are started each month. If only 1% of businesses hired a copywriter, that’s 340,000 businesses. That’s not factoring in that many businesses work with multiple copywriters! (See more on the math behind the opportunity for copywriters here >>)
Plus, copywriting is a recession-proof career. During a recession, businesses get hyper-focused on sales. And, because effective messaging helps drive sales, businesses still need copy.
Of course, there are still variables when it comes to job security. There’s no guarantee a business won’t let someone go. But having the skills to freelance, even if that’s not your full-time goal, gives you a career safety net.
Copywriting Is a Highly Flexible Career
Copywriters benefit from having many pathways within their career field. As a copywriter, you may want to work for an agency. Or you may want to work on-staff at a brand. Or you may want to be 100% freelance and work with many different clients. Maybe you want to work from your kitchen table to be around your children more. Or maybe you want to work from Italy for a month. All of these options are possible.
The best part? As your goals shift or factors in your life change which option is best for you, you can decide to move from an on-staff role to freelance. Or maybe you you from freelance to an agency. The options are endless.
Listen to the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast episode to hear all the ways to maximize the flexibility of copywriting >>
Just like any job, copywriting isn’t for absolutely everyone. But those who enjoy writing, enjoy solving problems, enjoy collaborating with stimulating and dynamic people, and want to get paid well for it may find that copywriting is an excellent career path for them.
Learn more about why becoming a copywriter is so rewarding >>
Watch More
On this bonus episode of the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast, Nicki and Kate discuss what they love most about copywriting. From the flexibility to work when and where you want to the variety of potential clients and mediums that keep work interesting, there are so many reasons copywriting is a great career.
Your Turn!
What other job satisfaction questions do you have about copywriting? Let us know in the comments below!
Last Updated on May 17, 2023
Is it necessary to live in a densely populated area to make a living as a copywriter?
Hi Harvey,
Well, it’s certainly *easier* to build a copywriting career in a more densely populated area (more people usually equals more businesses!), but it’s not necessary. You can build a career with mostly remote clients if you need to. That can take a little more time, but it’s most definitely doable.
Thanks for commenting!
Nicki
It seems to me that the sense of fulfillment comes when you earn your living by writing for causes, in which you firmly believe. In this case, however, doesn’t it mean that the copywriter has to be selective when it comes to his clients or he (especially as a newbie) cannot afford such a luxury?
Hi Viktor,
I don’t necessarily agree. I mean, yes, it can be very fulfilling to write for non-profits, but I definitely wouldn’t underestimate how fulfilling it is to write for other types of clients/employers, too. Many creatives (including myself) get a lot of satisfaction and fulfillment out of crafting great creative work that effectively conveys benefits, resonates with the target audience, and gets them to take action. It’s a big challenge to take on, and it’s very fulfilling to live up to that challenge, no matter what the product may be, or who the client is. And, luckily, that means that you don’t need to pare down your client list or become overly selective to experience this kind of fulfillment.
Thanks for commenting!
Nicki
We absolutely agree!