How To Become A Press Writer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a press writer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted expert

Anna Mae Duane

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a press writer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $29.55 an hour? That's $61,468 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -10% and produce -5,100 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a press writer?

Anna Mae Duane

Professor of English and Director of the Humanities Institute, Website

The idea that English majors are not in demand is a myth—don’t harm your own chances by buying into it! There are numerous studies—and countless employer testimonies—that indicate how valuable your skills as an English major are. English majors consistently find work in a variety of fields, and perhaps even more important, alumni of English departments report that they find their jobs and lives rewarding. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 'what sets two equally qualified job candidates apart can be as simple as who has the better communication skills.' You are, in many ways, ahead of the game in comparison to others in your cohort. I’d also urge English majors to think broadly about their career options. Yes, fields like journalism, publishing and advertising all rely on the skills developed in English departments. But other employers, particularly in tech companies, have realized how valuable English majors can be to their organization. As a recent report in Fortune indicates, top executives in AI at IBM and elsewhere realize that having expertise in the Humanities is an essential component for success in their field.

ScorePress WriterUS Average

Salary

4.8

Avg. Salary $61,468

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.3

Growth rate -10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.30%

Asian 8.49%

Black or African American 6.61%

Hispanic or Latino 13.21%

Unknown 4.44%

White 66.95%

Gender

female 58.20%

male 41.80%

Age - 38

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38

Stress level

7.3

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.1

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

2.1

Work life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a press writer

Explore press writer education requirements

Most common press writer degrees

Bachelor's

72.9 %

Master's

17.7 %

Associate

4.2 %

Complete relevant press writer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New press writers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a press writer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real press writer resumes.

Research press writer duties and responsibilities

Manage projects diligently under aggressive deadlines while maintaining editorial integrity and ensuring stories have entertainment and/or educational value.
Write and edit fiction and non-fiction text to accompany products release and distribute internationally.
Coordinate sample trafficking and prepare samples for VIP fittings.
Collect press clipping from magazines.

Prepare your press writer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your press writer resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a press writer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable press writer resume templates

Build a professional press writer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your press writer resume.