21 Best Writing Careers in 2025

Jobs for students who love to write don’t have to be limited to journalist or author. While those are great writing careers (more info on them below), there are many ways for students to go into careers that allow them to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and have their ideas heard. 

The salary range for writers is wide, ranging from $40,914 per year to $148,000, according to Franklin University. Of course, salary depends on how long a writer has been working, the expertise they’ve built up, and the field they are in. And many writing careers require a college degree to learn the craft of writing and establish an area of expertise. If you have students who are interested in making writing their life’s work, help guide them with this job list. It’s important for students to know that becoming a writer takes time, and even if they go to college and take writing courses, they can expect to spend some time building their expertise and reputation. 

*Note: All salary information is from Indeed.com and represents the average salary for each job in March 2025 in the United States.

1. Journalist

A journalist is the perfect writing job for the student who wants to know all the news that’s going on now. Journalists research and write news articles explaining and analyzing what’s happening in current events. It’s a good job for students who like to talk to people, aren’t afraid of asking tough questions, and can synthesize what they learn into clear, informative articles. 

• Average Salary: $45,553 per year
• Education/Training: College degree

2. Author

Authors who write fiction or nonfiction are often working on weekends and after their “regular job” to hone their craft. But that doesn’t mean that someone who loves to write and has a story to tell shouldn’t pursue writing as a passion until it becomes a career. 

• Average Salary: $43,332 per year
• Education/Training: College degree

3. Ghostwriter

For students who are curious about a little bit of everything, being a ghostwriter—someone who writes books in collaboration with experts and editors—could be a great option.

• Average Salary: $55,000 per year 
• Education/Training: College degree

4. News Producer

A news producer is another job for students who love to know what’s going on in the world. Producers write and edit scripts, prepare for interviews, and oversee news production. 

• Average Salary: $61,777 per year 
• Education/Training: College degree

5. Blogger or Web Writer

A web writer or blogger creates ongoing content for website blogs. Being a web writer offers a few paths for writers. They can work for a company and manage a blog, or write and manage their own blog, which involves maintaining their own affiliate ads and marketing to earn money. 

• Average Salary: $53,025
• Education/Training: College degree

6. Personal Assistant

A personal assistant writes correspondence, like email or press releases and other presentation materials. Great for a student who enjoys working as part of a team and implementing ideas.

• Average Salary: $46,517 per year 
• Education/Training: High school diploma

7. Proofreader

A proofreader reviews written material and checks for errors and inconsistencies. Another job that’s great for detail-oriented writers. 

• Average Salary: $48,416 per year
• Education/Training: High school diploma and additional training 

8. Copy Editor

A copy editor, similar to a proofreader, reviews written material and checks for accuracy, grammar, and style before publishing it. This job is fun for students who like to check for details and who like to be the first to read news. 

• Average Salary: $50,595 per year 
• Education/Training: College degree 

9. English Teacher

Teaching writing can be fun too! An English teacher teaches the components of writing and gets to read a lot of developing writing. Great for students who love to read and write and who talk a lot about both. 

• Average Salary: $52,684 per year 
• Education/Training: College degree

10. Copywriter

Copywriters are generalists who produce writing (copy) for a variety of publications, such as marketing materials and online and print publications. A great job for a writer who likes to write about anything and everything.

• Average Salary: $57,828 per year 
• Education/Training: College degree

11. Web Content Specialist

A student who loves to write blog posts or watch what’s trending online could be headed toward writing online content as a career. A web content strategist applies search engine optimization (SEO) to target their writing and online posts in a strategic way that gets people to click on it. 

• Average Salary: $53,809 per year 
• Education/Training: College degree

12. Paralegal

Paralegals write legal documents and briefs. This job is perfect for students who are interested in the law but don’t want to be lawyers themselves. 

• Average Salary: $56,463 per year
• Education/Training: Associate’s degree or paralegal training

13. Social Media Manager

Managing a company’s social media involves working with a team to create and manage the messages that go out regarding a business or organization. There is also a data-analysis component when analyzing which communication is most effective. 

• Average Salary: $56,830
• Education/Training: College degree

14. Grant Writer

Grant writing is a specialized kind of writing that requires knowledge of research, persuasive writing, and the grant process. These writers often work for nonprofits and apply for grants that advance the organization’s work. 

• Average Salary: $57,008 per year 
• Education/Training: College degree

15. Freelance Writer

A freelance writer can be a generalist or a specialist, depending on their area of expertise. Freelance writers work with clients to produce content for websites, publications, and other projects. Compared to other writers who are generally employed by a company, a freelance writer is self-employed. 

• Average Salary: $48,806
• Education/Training: College degree

16. Managing Editor

A managing editor combines writing and project management. They oversee the process of producing a publication and often manage a team of editors. 

• Average Salary: $60,105 per year
• Education/Training: College degree

17. Technical Writer

Students who love to read and write in order to be able to do something new are great fits for technical writing. A technical writer produces explanations of how to complete anything from putting together furniture to how to develop a computer program. 

• Average Salary: $60,632 per year
• Education/Training: College degree

18. Instructional Designer

Instructional designers create the pathways for students or adults to learn. This means writing curriculum, assignments, and content for students to use. The skills are more about producing the learning experience, so instructional designers may work on many different projects. 

• Average Salary: $68,011 per year 
• Education/Training: College degree

19. Video Game Designer

A video game designer must write scripts for the stories they’re building. This non-traditional writing job involves using writing techniques (structure, communication) to create engaging video games.

• Average Salary: $78,279 per year
• Education/Training: College degree

20. Marketing Assistant

A marketing assistant supports a director of marketing or public relations. They will write online and print materials and research effective strategies. Depending on who they work for, a marketing assistant can work with multiple clients and projects. 

• Average Salary: $42,960 per year
• Education/Training: College degree

21. Director of Public Relations

Public relations, or marketing, is all about communication through social media, marketing briefs, white papers, and press releases. A director of public relations will oversee the communications for a company or client.

• Average Salary: $71,113 per year
• Education/Training: College degree

Don’t forget to grab your free career exploration lesson plans!

Just click the button below to get your free career exploration lesson plans and handouts!