How to hire a creative writer

How to hire a creative writer, step by step

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

What does a creative writer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your creative 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 creative 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

   Hiring the perfect creative writer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

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

   Type of Creative Writer	Description	Hourly rate
   Creative Writer	Writers and authors develop written content for advertisements, books, magazines, movie and television scripts, songs, blogs, and other online publications.	$22-54
   Publisher	A publisher manages the design, editing, and production process with the help of proofreaders, printers, and editors. Publishers make schedules for every stage of the process and work backward from the planned date for publication... Show more	$20-57
   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
   • Proofreading
   • Email Campaigns
   • Video Scripts
   • Web Content
   • Proofread
   • Creative Ideas
   • Brochures
   • Copywriting
   • Press Releases
   • Creative Concepts
   • Creative Content
   • Creative Copy
   • Poetry

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the website, twitter, and facebook.
   • Manage publication review process, including technical and editorial review by in-house and outside reviewers.
   • Create and publish advertising copy, press releases, brochures and technical manuals.
   • Develop an eye for detail and proofreading.
   • Hire to write several papers for NIH fund grant projects.
   • Work with blogs, Wikipedia page management, and Youtube content.

   More creative writer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your creative writer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A creative writer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, creative writers' average salary in hawaii is 57% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level creative writers 60% less than senior-level creative writers.
   • Certifications. A creative writer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a creative writer's salary.

   Average creative writer salary

   $73,095yearly

   $35.14 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level creative writer salary

   $46,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

   Average creative writer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$103,537	$50
   2	California	$103,517	$50
   3	California	$103,512	$50
   4	California	$103,377	$50
   5	California	$102,240	$49
   6	California	$101,673	$49
   7	California	$97,954	$47
   8	California	$97,949	$47
   9	California	$97,885	$47
   10	California	$97,651	$47
   11	District of Columbia	$97,470	$47
   12	New Jersey	$97,024	$47
   13	New Jersey	$96,757	$47
   14	California	$96,739	$47
   15	Pennsylvania	$90,718	$44
   16	Massachusetts	$89,930	$43
   17	Washington	$89,556	$43
   18	Pennsylvania	$88,222	$42
   19	Connecticut	$87,632	$42
   20	New York	$86,375	$42

   Average creative writer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$129,063	$62.05	17
   2	Meta	$126,107	$60.63	31
   3	Google	$121,584	$58.45	20
   4	Squarespace	$120,901	$58.13
   5	NBCUniversal	$92,535	$44.49	39
   6	Electronic Arts	$90,197	$43.36	1
   7	Alteryx	$88,893	$42.74
   8	Entrata	$86,900	$41.78
   9	Fisher Investments	$86,054	$41.37	2
   10	Foundation For A Christian	$83,117	$39.96
   11	Plains Cotton Cooperative Association	$82,759	$39.79
   12	Ericsson	$77,731	$37.37
   13	KPMG LLP	$77,488	$37.25
   14	Crystal Equation	$76,870	$36.96
   15	Johnson Controls	$74,140	$35.64
   16	Strategic Staffing Solutions	$74,030	$35.59
   17	Thermo Fisher Scientific	$71,632	$34.44	24
   18	Salesforce	$69,845	$33.58	3
   19	National Restaurant Association	$67,008	$32.22
   20	Kelly Services	$46,032	$22.13	4

4. Writing a creative writer job description

   A creative 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 creative writer job description:

   Creative writer job description example

   Entrata creates software to help property owners and managers do their jobs more effectively. We are proud of our brand and are invested in protecting its impact both with our clients and within our industry, but also with our employees and community.
   
   As a creative team, we create campaigns and experiences that delight and inform our clients. In addition, we work hard to infuse Entrata's unique and fun personality into our company culture and the Entrata brand. If you're a natural storyteller who specializes in engaging headlines, irresistible calls to action, and compelling short and long-form scripts we want you on our team!
   
   Entrata's Creative department is seeking a Creative Copywriter based in our Lehi, UT location. As part of the Marketing and Creative team, you will effectively carry your visions all the way from concept to execution, collaboratively creating strategic content that connects with and persuades a variety of diverse audiences. Under the direction of Entrata's Creative Director, a Creative Copywriter will contribute to the success of the company by ensuring the Entrata brand stays strong and consistent across all collateral the company distributes.
   
   Responsibilities will include:Bring an authentic and human voice to complex, technology-centered content.Concept and execute campaigns that exemplify Entrata's brand.Create strategic content that connects with and persuades an identified audience.Edit and re-draft copy as necessary.Create content for a variety of mediums (digital, print, video, etc.) and applications (wayfinding, in-product copy, short and long-form scripts, etc.) Deliver finished campaigns that align with stakeholder priorities and direction.Apply principles of storytelling to craft narratives that connect with the target audience.Engage in conceptual collaboration with creative professionals to marry top line copy with an overall visual experience.Work collaboratively with art directors, designers, product managers, and leadership.Serve as a trusted consultant for language and usage rules.Keep up with trends, talent, competitive advertising and target mindset.Bridge the gap between creative team and other teams/departments across the company by encouraging communication and collaboration.Assist Entrata's Creative Director with high stakes projects and important meetings.
   
   Minimum QualificationsFlawless spelling and grammar An eye for the smallest of details Ability to create original, strategic, and persuasive copy Excellent time and project management - ability to meet deadlines and budgets Strategic approach to creative brainstorming Equally comfortable working as a team and independently Ability to collaboratively guide vision from concept to execution Flexible and responsive - responds quickly and positively to stakeholder feedback3-5 years of agency or in-house experience
   
   Preferred Qualifications4-year college degree in relevant field Experience creating copy for technology-related B2B clients
   Please submit a writing sample with application
   
   When Entrata claims “Be the Joneses'' as one of our core values, we mean what we say. We have been setting the standard for property management technology for nearly 20 years and continue to lead innovation in an industry that provides housing to tens of thousands of apartment communities around the world. People who come to work at Entrata are the Real Deal: straight-talking, forward-thinking, hard workers who come together both to collaborate and to have a good time.
   
   But members of the 'Jones Family' aren't just smart and ambitious, they're the living embodiment of another core Value: “Be Excellent to Each Other.” Entrata is dedicated to creating a workplace where a diverse and inclusive team thrives in an environment free from discrimination. We provide equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, protected veteran status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law.
   
   It's a great place to work; a place where we live by the words “Business in the Front, Party in the Back.” Will you join us?

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right creative writer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with creative writers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit creative writers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your creative writer job on Zippia to find and recruit creative writer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit creative writers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 creative writer

   Once you've selected the best creative 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 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 creative 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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