Copywriter Salary

While the salary of copywriters varies by country, there is a general trend which shows that copywriting is often a profitable field to get started in. The U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, and Norway, a copywriter salary is very similar. Switzerland has a much higher pay rate for both salary and hourly pay. This difference is likely largely due to economic factors such as demand and the cost of living. This article will compare the salaries and industries for copywriters in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, Switzerland, and Norway.

Copywriter Salary Influencers

A simple way to go about analyzing the differences in the copywriting industry between these six countries is to break it into sections such as: industry, geographical area, experience, working hours, bonuses and benefit packages, and job outlook. Each section will specifically address each country.

1. Industry

Copywriters are usually employed by companies and work in offices, so they get benefits such as insurance and paid-time-off (PTO) most of the time. Bonuses are usually substantial in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia., averaging to $3,200, while Switzerland and Norway rarely offer bonuses. The average hourly pay for Switzerland is high at about $45, while the others are close enough to average out to $21 an hour. Salaries in the other five countries average out to about $42,000 a year, but Switzerland stays in the lead at around $93,500.

2. Geographical Area

*All rates will appear with their USD conversions below.

Copywriter Salary in the U.S.

On average, a copywriter in the United States gets a salary of about $48,000 and $19.33 an hour. Commissions tend to pull in around $9,722, while bonuses go anywhere between $491.53 and $5,968. Since copywriting is either based on salary or commission, or a combination, the earnings vary greatly depending on job placement.

Copywriter Salary in Canada

Canadian copywriters are more likely to work exclusively in an office than their U.S. counterparts and make an average salary of C$45,387 (USD$35,886.14) and C$21.50 (USD$17.00) an hour. Bonuses usually range between C$484.79 and C$9,826 (USD$383.31 and 7,769.12). The steady office work during regular business hours yields a reliable income across the board.

Copywriter Salary in the U.K.

Copywriters in the U.K. make an average salary of £23,000 (USD$31.000) and £14.83 (USD$19.43) an hour. There are fewer freelance copywriters in the U.K., so commissions are rarer, but the average copywriter gets between £524 and £4,750 (USD$686.54 – 6223.45) in bonuses. Most work in offices and so they generally receive a steady salary.

Copywriter Salary in Australia

Australian copywriters have a median salary of AU$55,528 (USD$43,485.64) and AU$29.59 (USD$23.17) an hour. Bonuses usually come to about AU$2,750 (USD$2,153.61). They often work in offices or through companies so their salary is the same throughout the year.

Copywriter Salary in Switzerland

Most copywriters in Switzerland receive a salary and not an hourly rate, and make CHF 90,000 (USD$93,422.13) a year, with an hourly rate calculating to about CHF 43.27 (USD$44.92). Overtime is rare for salary-based employment, so there is little data on what Swiss copywriters make on average for overtime.

Copywriter Salary in Norway

As in Switzerland, most Norwegian copywriters earn a set salary and not hourly pay. The average salary is NOK 408,239.62 (USD$50,871) which calculates to about NOK 196.27 (USD$24.46) an hour. There is very little data on bonuses, which is likely because they work for a set salary and get pay raises and not bonuses.

3. Experience

Experience plays a huge factor in the salary of a copywriter. The table below shows the salary distribution between countries. These numbers include salary, tips, bonuses, and overtime. There is not enough data on Norwegian copywriters to include them on this chart. A junior copywriter can hope to make about $44.000 in the US. In the UK, the average entry-level salary for a copywriter is around £16.800 (USD$22,000).

At the senior level, a copywriter can make upwards of $62,000 in the US. In Canada, the difference between an entry-level salary and a senior level is even greater. A senior copywriter salary in Canada can go as high as C$101,180 (USD$80,000). In the UK, Australia and Switzerland and Norway, the differences in pay are not as large, on average.

Generally, a college degree is not required. However, a degree in a related field may yield a higher salary, and most any degree sharpens the skills necessary for copywriting. The more proof someone has that they are a competent writer that can meet the needs of their clients, the more hirable they are.

Working Hours

Most copywriters work in an office, full-time (usually 40 hours a week in the U.S.), and only on weekdays during typical business hours. However, they often work overtime into the evenings and weekends due to the creative and deadline nature of their work. In the U.S., copywriters make between $17.70 and $44.52 for overtime, and in Canada it’s about C$30.00 (USD$23.72). For the U.K., there is no solid data on the amount paid for overtime, though this is likely connected to labor laws and widespread unions. In Australia, overtime usually pays AU$92.50 (USD$72.44). Norwegian copywriters work for a set salary and there is no data on if they receive any pay for overtime.

Bonuses & Benefit Packages

Most American copywriters get medical coverage, and over half get dental and vision as well. About 20% of copywriters in America receive no health benefits. Countries like Canada, the U.K, and Norway, where health care coverage is universal, do not give special insurance for copywriters. In Australia, only 5% of copywriters have medical coverage through their job, which is like Switzerland’s 18% with medical coverage. Paid time-off depends on the individual company, so lower-level copywriters get little to none while senior copywriters earn PTO based on the hours they work.

Job Outlook

Copywriting is always in demand, since there are many people who need professional writing for their businesses but do not have the necessary skills to do so themselves. In America, there are 52,000 copywriters and the job outlook is looking good at 10%. With the push for all companies to have websites, copywriters are in high demand to help make company sites look their best. There is also a lot of work for freelance copywriters to write articles or blog posts for existing websites through ghostwriting. This is a valuable field to get started in, and one that people can quickly work up the ladder in.

Conclusion

Copywriters can freelance for commissions but often work for a company and receive a salary. They often have some sort of healthcare and receive bonuses or overtime in almost every country. The average salary between the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, and Norway for a copywriter is about $50,500 a year and around $25 an hour.