How to hire an advertising copy writer

How to hire an advertising copy writer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step advertising copy writer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an advertising copy writer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new advertising copy writer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your advertising copy writer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an advertising copy writer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An advertising copy writer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, advertising copy writers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of advertising copy writers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Advertising Copy Writer	Description	Hourly rate
   Advertising Copy Writer	Writers and authors develop written content for advertisements, books, magazines, movie and television scripts, songs, blogs, and other online publications.	$20-37
   Writer	A writer can have different responsibilities depending on which industry or line of work they are involved. There are writers assigned in a corporate setting, some in journalism, while there are also writers in the entertainment Industry... Show more	$19-51
   Creative Writer	Creative writers are professionals who employ their imagination and discipline to convey new and interesting ideas to an audience in an engaging way, such as books, screenplays, and promotional marketing material. These writers must select a subject or theme for their writing projects while conducting research to obtain factual information and authentic detail for their content... Show more	$22-54

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Press Releases

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage editorial content of monthly print newsletter for health care professionals.
   • Coordinate logistics management for signal elements, including securing training sites, movement of personnel, communications, and equipment.
   • Radio copywriting afford a career foundation to write imaginatively, quickly, and succinctly.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the advertising copy writer job description is a good way to get more applicants. An advertising copy writer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for an advertising copy writer in Michigan may be lower than in Massachusetts, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level advertising copy writer. Additionally, an advertising copy writer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average advertising copy writer salary

   $57,705yearly

   $27.74 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level advertising copy writer salary

   $42,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 6, 2025

   Average advertising copy writer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$73,759	$35
   2	California	$71,426	$34
   3	Nevada	$59,551	$29
   4	Illinois	$58,394	$28
   5	Florida	$56,369	$27
   6	Georgia	$55,311	$27
   7	Texas	$54,677	$26
   8	Colorado	$53,768	$26
   9	Kansas	$46,790	$23

   Average advertising copy writer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Advisors Excel	$67,612	$32.51	1
   2	Translation	$64,189	$30.86
   3	Robert Half	$60,737	$29.20	8
   4	Carle Foundation	$44,221	$21.26
   5	The Home Depot	$42,785	$20.57

4. Writing an advertising copy writer job description

   A job description for an advertising copy writer role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an advertising copy writer job description:

   Advertising copy writer job description example

   • Conceptualize and strategize engaging content for creative initiatives, campaigns, and projects
   • Write the Island Times newsletter, Island Calls, brochures, print ads and collateral pieces, and direct mail pieces
   • Develop optimized copy for web, including online features, promotion, email marketing campaigns as well as website content and landing pages
   • Communicate positive brand standards and collaborate with internal/external business partners to ensure continuity of brand and message
   • Write copy and schedule messaging for all radio continuity, entertainment radio and in house promotional announcements
   • Edit and help facilitate the approval process for all collateral and advertising projects.
   • Assist with the production of radio and television commercials and photography
   • Provide advertising support and promotion for specific products, events and services to outside departments as well as the Tribal Community
   • Assist in the visual layout of the newsletter, website and all advertising collateral
   • Assist in protecting the integrity of the Treasure Island and Prairie brand identities, keeping within the guidelines and standards policies

   
   IDEAL CANDIDATES HAVE:
   Required:

   • 4 year degree in Marketing or Advertising; plus 2 years copy writing experience; or a combination of equivalent experience and/or education
   • High attention to detail and accuracy
   • High level organizational skills and the ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities
   • Proficient in AP Style
   • Proficient in Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite in a Mac environment
   • Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
   • Concept and copywriting skills
   • Ability to independently complete multiple tasks in a professional manner
   • Ability to manage projects in a timely and efficient manner

   
   Preferred:

   • Sports marketing experience
   • Working knowledge of Wordpress and Google Analytics
   • Fluent in digital marketing best practices, including SEM, SEO display advertising, email marketing and social media
   • Advertising agency experience

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right advertising copy writer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your advertising copy writer job on Zippia to find and recruit advertising copy writer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as problogger, media bistro, journalismjobs.com, content writing jobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit advertising copy writers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new advertising copy writer

   Once you've found the advertising copy writer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new advertising copy writer first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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