How to hire a copy writer

How to hire a copy writer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step 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 a copy writer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new copy writer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a copy writer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your 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 a 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a copy 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 copy writer that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of copy writer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Copy Writer	Description	Hourly rate
   Copy Writer	Writers and authors develop written content for advertisements, books, magazines, movie and television scripts, songs, blogs, and other online publications.	$19-48
   Technical Editor	A technical editor is someone who proofreads, revises, and edits technical documents. He/She or she checks for grammar, punctuation, and style to ensure that the technical content meets company standards... Show more	$22-38
   Managing Editor	Managing editors are individuals who coordinate and oversee the editorial activities of a publication. They administer the daily operations or a website or publication, such as generating ideas and planning and editing content... Show more	$28-63

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Web Content
   • WordPress
   • Digital Marketing
   • Proofreading
   • Web Copy
   • Email Campaigns
   • Copywriting
   • Search Engine Optimization
   • Press Releases
   • Creative Concepts
   • Content Marketing
   • Blog Posts
   • Brochures
   • HTML

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage editorial content of monthly print newsletter for health care professionals.
   • Ensure content relevance for SEO.
   • Proofread and edit content submit by department heads.
   • Demonstrate superior editing, proofreading, revising, and reasearch skills.
   • Design and implementation of web ads on Facebook, websites and newsletter.
   • Maintain, update, and develop corporate website using HTML, PHP, and Dreamweaver

   More copy writer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your copy writer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A copy writer salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a copy writer in Wyoming may be lower than in California, and an entry-level copy writer usually earns less than a senior-level copy writer. Additionally, a copy writer with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average copy writer salary

   $65,162yearly

   $31.33 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level copy writer salary

   $41,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 31, 2026

   Average copy writer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$93,347	$45
   2	District of Columbia	$85,617	$41
   3	New Jersey	$83,951	$40
   4	Pennsylvania	$79,888	$38
   5	Massachusetts	$78,189	$38
   6	Utah	$73,993	$36
   7	Virginia	$72,959	$35
   8	New York	$72,729	$35
   9	Nevada	$72,380	$35
   10	Colorado	$65,495	$31
   11	Kentucky	$59,984	$29
   12	Illinois	$56,030	$27
   13	Texas	$55,409	$27
   14	Montana	$55,170	$27
   15	Georgia	$54,489	$26
   16	Florida	$52,705	$25
   17	Arizona	$52,062	$25
   18	Hawaii	$39,746	$19

   Average copy writer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Microsoft	$112,423	$54.05	2
   2	Square	$105,202	$50.58
   3	Bartle Bogle Hegarty	$96,200	$46.25
   4	CVS Health	$95,765	$46.04
   5	Droga5	$94,315	$45.34
   6	Crispin Porter + Bogusky	$91,848	$44.16
   7	Wunderman Thompson	$90,142	$43.34
   8	The Integer Group	$86,829	$41.74
   9	Eleven	$86,246	$41.46
   10	BQE Software	$81,801	$39.33
   11	TPG Inc	$81,603	$39.23
   12	Crawford Electric Supply	$79,094	$38.03
   13	Frequency	$78,247	$37.62
   14	Hewlett Packard Enterprise	$77,105	$37.07	2
   15	Advanced Battery Technologies	$77,078	$37.06
   16	Venables Bell & Partners	$75,917	$36.50
   17	Turvo	$75,808	$36.45
   18	Tappan	$75,758	$36.42
   19	L'OCCITANE, Inc.	$75,758	$36.42
   20	BF Suma Africa	$75,758	$36.42

4. Writing a copy writer job description

   A good copy writer job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a copy writer job description:

   Copy writer job description example

   OUR STORY
   Quince was started to challenge the existing idea that nice things should cost a lot. Our mission was simple: create an item of equal or greater quality than the leading luxury brands and sell them at a much lower price.
   
   OUR VALUES
   EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD NICE THINGS. Quality shouldn't be a luxury. We're proud of our mission to bring the world's highest quality goods to people at affordable prices.
   
   QUALITY IS MORE THAN MATERIALS. True quality is a combination of premium materials and high production standards.
   
   WE FOCUS ON THE ESSENTIALS. From the perfect crewneck sweater to hotel quality sheets, we're all about high quality essentials that bring enjoyment to daily life.
   
   WE'RE INNOVATING TO MAKE UNREAL PRICES A REALITY. Our uniquely developed factory-direct model lets us offer exceptionally high quality goods for much lower prices than our competitors.
   
   ALWAYS A BETTER DEAL. We believe in real price transparency, for both our customers and factory partners. This way, everyone gets a better deal.
   
   FAIR FACTORIES. We are committed to working with factories that meet the global standards for workplace safety and wage fairness.
   
   OUR TEAM AND SUCCESS
   Quince is a retail and technology company co-founded by a team that has extensive experience in retail, technology and building early stage companies. You'll work with a team of world-class talent from Stanford GSB, Wish.com, D.E. Shaw, Stitch Fix, Urban Outfitters, Wayfair, McKinsey, Nike etc.
   
   THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
   The ideal candidate is a self-starter, problem-solver and successful in combining technology and data into best-in-class outcomes. The candidate is energized by solving complex business problems and consistently effective in making high-judgement decisions at rapid pace amidst the frequent ambiguity that comes with charting a course of action with no precedent. Moreover, the ideal candidate is energized by an environment where strategy, innovation and decision-making are intentionally distributed, where candor, speed and data are highly valued and colleagues at all levels hold each other to unusually high standards on behalf of Quince customers.
   
   As sr. copywriter, you will be a key member of the Quince creative team, responsible for continuing to craft our brand tone and voice, and bringing it to life via a variety of channels including website, social media, emails, and seasonal campaign work. You will be collaborating closely with the creative director, senior designer, brand and merchants teams to brainstorm ideas, create concepts, develop messaging and execute on copy. If you are a creative collaborator that likes to build from the ground up, this role is perfect for you!
   Responsibilities Work closely with the internal creative and strategy team to participate in all stages of the creative process, from brainstorming to conceptual development & execution Lead continued development of the Quince brand tone and voice Write compelling and industry accurate descriptions for apparel, accessories and home products for the Quince website Write content for ads and social media Revise copy based on feedback from the leadership team.Collaborate with a team from concept to development of final product for seasonal advertising campaigns Comfortably vary voice, style, and other characteristics demanded by the target audience and channel Stay up to date on appropriate style guidelines and brand voice for consistency in messaging Continually raise the bar on creativity, writing fresh copy that connects with the Quince customer and drives action
   Requirements 3-5 years of relevant experience, preferably in an agency or retail settingA bachelor's degree in English or a related major.Excellent writing and editing skills with demonstrated experience in conceptual writing in marketing or advertising, web, product, brand messaging and promotional copy Working knowledge of garment construction and industry terminology Strong verbal and communication and presentation skills Ability to work cross-functionally with a face paced team Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously Thrive in a fast paced, collaborative environment with a high-volume workload often requiring short turnaround times
   Quince seeks to build high-performing teams of people from various experiences and backgrounds who can collectively push our company into new realms. We seek a diverse pool of applicants and consider all qualified candidates regardless of race, ancestry, color, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, Veteran status, marital status, or any other protected status. If you have a special need or disability that requires accommodation, please let us know.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

   Your first interview with copy 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 copy writer

   Once you've selected the best copy writer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new copy writer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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