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Freelance copywriter vs content writer

The differences between freelance copywriters and content writers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a freelance copywriter and a content writer. Additionally, a freelance copywriter has an average salary of $69,978, which is higher than the $58,918 average annual salary of a content writer.

The top three skills for a freelance copywriter include web content, blog posts and copywriting. The most important skills for a content writer are digital marketing, wordpress, and web content.

Freelance copywriter vs content writer overview

Freelance CopywriterContent Writer
Yearly salary$69,978$58,918
Hourly rate$33.64$28.33
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs2,98119,621
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 82%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

What does a freelance copywriter do?

A Freelance Copywriter generates the words, slogans, and audio scripts that accompany advertising visuals. They work as an independent contractor, either on their own, or through a recruitment agency.

What does a content writer do?

The job of content writers is to create the best possible written or visual content ranging from blog posts to press releases. They produce the content for various types of websites, including social networks, news aggregators, and e-commerce sites. The job of content writers is not limited to writing, but also ensuring that the content connects or is relevant to the website pages. They are expected to set the tone of the website and revise the content upon customers' or clients' requests. They are also responsible for assisting in the creation of style guides.

Freelance copywriter vs content writer salary

Freelance copywriters and content writers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Freelance CopywriterContent Writer
Average salary$69,978$58,918
Salary rangeBetween $46,000 And $105,000Between $40,000 And $84,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Cisco
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between freelance copywriter and content writer education

There are a few differences between a freelance copywriter and a content writer in terms of educational background:

Freelance CopywriterContent Writer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 82%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Most common majorEnglishEnglish
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Freelance copywriter vs content writer demographics

Here are the differences between freelance copywriters' and content writers' demographics:

Freelance CopywriterContent Writer
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 46.3% Female, 53.7%Male, 39.8% Female, 60.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 4.9% White, 75.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 6.0% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 5.0% White, 75.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between freelance copywriter and content writer duties and responsibilities

Freelance copywriter example responsibilities.

  • Manage proposal process from RFP (request for proposal) receipt to writing and editing various contributions to final RFP submission.
  • Provide copywriting services to clients using proven direct response marketing elements to optimize conversions.
  • Experience with brand development, copywriting, advertising, and integrate social media marketing communications.
  • Participate in brainstorming sessions to cultivate creative solutions to advertising opportunities with uniquely clever messages.
  • Provide career branding services, including resume, LinkedIn, and professional biography writing services.
  • Develop and administer the company's RFP database; greatly streamline the RFP process.
  • Show more

Content writer example 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.
  • Show more

Freelance copywriter vs content writer skills

Common freelance copywriter skills
  • Web Content, 22%
  • Blog Posts, 8%
  • Copywriting, 7%
  • Creative Concepts, 6%
  • Brainstorm, 5%
  • Email Campaigns, 5%
Common content writer skills
  • Digital Marketing, 10%
  • WordPress, 9%
  • Web Content, 6%
  • Blog Posts, 6%
  • Digital Content, 3%
  • Content Marketing, 3%

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