Author: Career and Salary Facts
Research what it takes to become an author. Learn about degree requirements, key skills, job outlook and salary to find out if this is the career for you.
What Is an Author?
Authors may create fiction stories, write research pieces, publish blogs or develop newspaper columns. They will choose a topic that interests readers, and conduct research to provide accurate information. Authors must work to establish credibility through proper sources and citations. Once a piece is written, an author will often submit a draft to an editor for feedback, and work with that editor to prepare the piece for publication. A summary of important career information is provided in the table below.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Degree Required</b> </td><td> Bachelor's degree</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Education Field of Study</b> </td><td> Communications, English, journalism, writing</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Key Skills</b></td><td> Writing, editing, attention to detail, creativity</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Job Growth (2020-2030)</b></td><td> 9% (<i>for all writers and authors</i>)*</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Median Salary (2020)</b></td><td> $67,120 (<i>for all writers and authors</i>)*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---WhatWillIDoAsAnAuthor">What Will I Do as an Author?</h3><p>You have many choices as an author when it comes to where you work and what type of material you write. You can write informational pieces for magazines, stories for a newspaper, briefs for a company newsletter, scripts for entertainment or a novel. Work is available in television, movies, business, education and almost every industry. You may write fiction or non-fiction and work for a company or perform freelance work.
</p><p>Regardless of what type of material you write, your job duties include conducting research, brainstorming ideas, typing, proofreading and editing. You may also have to create computer documents, prepare manuscripts according to publisher's guidelines, deliver work to an editor, travel, conduct interviews, attend publishing meetings and investigate story leads.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatEducationOrTrainingIsNeeded">What Education or Training Is Needed?</h3><p>Education is not a mandatory requirement to be an author, but it can be helpful in securing a job or obtaining contract work. Some employers prefer you have a bachelor's degree in English, communications, journalism or writing. There are also master's degree programs available that may give you an edge over the competition. Courses in these programs include literature, creative writing, poetry, research and theory.
</p><p>You should focus on getting experience in writing, developing a portfolio of your best work and gaining credit as a published author. Experience is often a factor that influences employers or publishers when they hire a candidate for a job or project. Membership in a professional writing organization--such as The American Society of Journalists and Authors or The Association of Writers & Writing Programs--is also a way to get an edge over the competition. These two organizations offer support, information and various tools to help authors get experience, learn more about the writing profession and advance their careers.
</p><h3 id="section---HowMuchCanIEarn">How Much Can I Earn?</h3><p>As an author, your salary is typically based on what type of material you write, whom you work for and what medium you are working in. Due to the many factors that influence pay, the salary averages available for authors are a broad representation of what you could make. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a median annual income of $67,120 for writers and authors as of May 2020. Authors and writers in the 90th percentile earned $133,460 or more, while the 10th percentile earned $35,880 or less per year.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatAreSomeRelatedAlternativeCareers">What Are Some Related Alternative Careers?</h3><p>There are several related alternative careers that require a bachelor's degree. Editors tend to work with writers and authors to review their work and prepare it for publication. Technical writers prepare written work for complex subjects that may be included in things like instruction manuals. Reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts work to bring news and current events to the public through newspapers, television and other forms of media.</p>