How to hire a content writer

How to hire a content writer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step content writer hiring guide:

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

What does a content writer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The content writer hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a content writer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a content writer that fits the bill.

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

   Type of Content Writer	Description	Hourly rate
   Content Writer	Writers and authors develop written content for advertisements, books, magazines, movie and television scripts, songs, blogs, and other online publications.	$19-40
   Journalist	A journalist is responsible for creating written correspondence, covering various subjects as the management requires. This task involves a lot of research investigations, conducting interviews, and gathering reliable sources to verify the authenticity of data before releasing the articles on news portals and other social platforms... Show more	$18-45
   Editor	An editor is the one responsible for polishing and refining a story, article, and any material for publication in newspapers, magazines, books, or websites. Editors have the power to either accept or reject a material as they need to ensure that every manuscript which will be offered for publishing is at the best version as it can be... Show more	$16-37

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Digital Marketing
   • WordPress
   • Web Content
   • Blog Posts
   • Digital Content
   • Content Marketing
   • Press Releases
   • Content Writing
   • Subject Matter Experts
   • Proofreading
   • Content Creation
   • PowerPoint
   • Content Strategy
   • Email Marketing

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Implement and manage Salesforce and Marketo for client to establish lead nurturing campaigns.
   • Maintain guest blogging strategy and policies to achieve a consistently diverse authorship and to grow readership.
   • Manage the editorial production of the pamphlets, brochures and graphic material to target worldwide audiences including china.
   • Manage proposal process from RFP (request for proposal) receipt to writing and editing various contributions to final RFP submission.
   • Collaborate with overseas team and manage documents using SharePoint to conceptualize and generate new marketing content.
   • Produce a wide array of literature ranging from poetry to short stories.

   More content writer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your content writer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A content writer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, content writers' average salary in tennessee is 43% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level content writers earn 52% less than senior-level content writers.
   • Certifications. A content writer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a content writer's salary.

   Average content writer salary

   $58,918yearly

   $28.33 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level content writer salary

   $40,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 25, 2025

   Average content writer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$78,744	$38
   2	Massachusetts	$72,235	$35
   3	Utah	$68,989	$33
   4	New York	$68,882	$33
   5	Maine	$67,764	$33
   6	Wisconsin	$66,745	$32
   7	District of Columbia	$66,541	$32
   8	Colorado	$66,240	$32
   9	Washington	$65,987	$32
   10	Indiana	$65,431	$31
   11	Minnesota	$63,881	$31
   12	New Hampshire	$61,042	$29
   13	Pennsylvania	$58,301	$28
   14	Oregon	$57,130	$27
   15	Arizona	$56,948	$27
   16	Maryland	$56,646	$27
   17	Georgia	$55,916	$27
   18	New Jersey	$54,477	$26
   19	Michigan	$52,830	$25
   20	Ohio	$52,214	$25

   Average content writer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Cisco	$91,421	$43.95
   2	Atlassian	$90,183	$43.36	1
   3	VMware	$89,286	$42.93
   4	Kronos Incorporated	$88,464	$42.53
   5	Tableau	$88,011	$42.31
   6	Amazon	$82,342	$39.59	38
   7	Datadog	$81,386	$39.13	2
   8	Citi	$79,986	$38.45
   9	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	$79,041	$38.00	17
   10	Transwestern	$77,693	$37.35
   11	Amd	$76,154	$36.61	1
   12	ExtraHop	$74,660	$35.89	1
   13	TechTarget	$73,772	$35.47	1
   14	WebMD	$72,897	$35.05	4
   15	BarkBox	$72,192	$34.71
   16	Brafton	$70,626	$33.95
   17	Convercent	$70,357	$33.83
   18	Walgreens	$69,488	$33.41
   19	Erickson	$68,793	$33.07
   20	Eastman	$68,200	$32.79

4. Writing a content writer job description

   A content writer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a content writer job description:

   Content writer job description example

   As a marketing team member, you'll be responsible for creating content that nurtures, engages, educates, and activates our technical healthcare audience. You will work alongside marketers, product managers, clinical scientists, and designers in independent and collaborative settings.
   
   What You'll Do:Write and edit content for MIM's website, blog, case studies, emailers, social media, product sheets, brochures, event signage, and sales pitch decks Develop compelling messaging for MIM's website Tell stories that engage healthcare audiences, future employees, and our community Collaborate with colleagues to create educational materials that will help people learn about emerging healthcare technologies and our products Generate 3-4 blogs each quarter and serve as a resource to others who may write blogs Coordinate and interview subject matter experts and Product Managers to produce informative and educational content Meet with stakeholders company-wide to determine suitable educational topics Capture stories of MIM users who treat and manage cancer as well as other diseases in their day-to-day work with case studies Initiate, develop, drive, interview, write, and edit conversations with MIM users Conduct interviews in virtual or in-person settings Translate these conversations into multiple mediums for distribution Create and schedule posts on LinkedIn and Twitter that promote MIM's content and events to a global audience Collaborate with video producers and subject matter experts to develop scripts for videos and related content Organize a writing calendar to complete content drafts and finished work within deadlines Adhere to an editorial calendar and collaborate with other stakeholders to ensure on-time publishing and delivery Audit existing marketing collateral and propose improvements based on data and feedback Contribute to scalable systems such as templates, copy blocks, and other toolkits that empower others to contribute in ways that adhere to brand standards Transform existing marketing material to fit new contexts Comply with regulatory guardrails to ensure that content is technically accurate and clear
   
   What You'll Need:At least 3-5 years of experience writing about healthcare, technology, or other complex regulated industries Possesses impeccable English writing, grammar, and verbal communication skills Works well with ambiguity and knows how to acquire information independently Breaks complex topics down into straightforward, comprehensive customer-facing content Meticulous, organized, and goal-oriented Passionate about storytelling Knowledge of SEO, SEM, and web-writing best practices is a plus Inquisitive and receptive to feedback and new information Enjoys occasional travel when interview or story opportunities are available at hospitals or trade shows Proven record of excellent writing demonstrated in a professional portfolio
   
   What You'll Get:Hybrid work environment so you can work remotely as well as enjoy the office MIM pays 100% of your insurance monthly costs; including medical, dental, vision, disability and a $400,000 life insurance policy Each employee received a Health Savings Account (HSA) that fully covers the medical deductible (prorated based on start date)15 vacation days and 11 paid company holidays, including the time between Christmas and New Years1 Sholiday (Special Holiday) that you can use to celebrate a day of personal meaningA 401(k) with a 4% match that is 100% vested on day one Annual Bonus Program - Historically at least 10% of your base salary Up to $8,000 in tuition reimbursement annually Free snacks and beverages at the office24 hour access to an in-office fitness center
   WAIT, WHAT DOES MIM DO?
   MIM provides medical imaging software to imaging centers, hospitals, specialty clinics, research organizations, and pharmaceutical companies across the globe. Our mission is to enhance patient care by providing tools to support the diagnostic and treatment process so the physician can focus on the patient.
   
   Diversity Equity and Inclusion
   MIM is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone can contribute and thrive. We'll encourage, support, and learn from each other's perspectives. This is both the right thing to do and vital: diverse perspectives fuel innovations that enhance patient care.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right content 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 content writer job on Zippia to find and recruit content 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

   Your first interview with content writer candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of 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 content writer

   Once you've decided on a perfect content writer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new content 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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How much does it cost to hire a content writer?