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Creative IndustriesTop JobColorado Talent Pipeline Report-aligned occupation with strong annual openings, growth, and wage signals.

Writer / Author

Originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material.

Annual openings

367

Median wage

$76,830

Typical education

High school (GED)

Growth 2026–2032

+10%

Median wage source: Colorado BLS OEWS (2025).

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Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

Typical education

High school (GED)

Credential requirement

No certification is required or expected for this job.

Work experience

No previous work experience is required, though work experience/internship/education building the skills needed to become a professional writer is expected.

Work-based learning

No information available

Employer competency information

Feedback from artists identifies the following competencies as being critical to success

  • Creativity — The ability to turn an idea into a story
  • Entrepreneurship — How to earn a living from your passion and creating a good business plan
  • Marketing — The ability to promote what is written to readers and businesses
Making a living as a creative artist requires a mix of skill, ability, and entrepreneurship - finding a way to sell what is created.

Is this work a fit?

What the work actually feels like

How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.

Work style

The type of work can vary by job and employer.

  • With childrenNo
  • On a computerMay vary
  • OutdoorsNo
  • With your handsNo

Interests it draws on

  • Arts, Design, and Entertainment
  • Publishing

Automation exposure

Low exposure

Tasks here lean on judgement and people skills that are hard to automate.

A typical day

  1. Develop advertising campaigns for a wide range of clients, working with an advertising agency's creative director and art director to determine the best way to present advertising information.
  2. Vary language and tone of messages based on product and medium.
  3. Present drafts and ideas to clients.
  4. Discuss with the client the product, advertising themes and methods, and any changes that should be made in advertising copy.
  5. Review advertising trends, consumer surveys, and other data regarding marketing of goods and services to determine the best way to promote products.
  6. Write articles, bulletins, sales letters, speeches, and other related informative, marketing and promotional material.
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