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

What is a script writer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Emily Griesinger Ph.D.

Scriptwriters bring stories to life by describing what's happening in scenes accurately and creatively. They usually work in the entertainment industry, creating scripts for movies, TV shows, commercials, and other types of media. More than that, they may also work in the academe teaching other people how to write scripts.

The primary duty of a scriptwriter is to create scripts according to the writer or producer's specifications. This process also involves conducting research on source materials, attending brainstorming meetings, interviewing the story creators, and gaining inspiration from other media. They may also spend a lot of time creating their own characters and assisting the casting department in finding the right people to flesh out the script.

The path to becoming a scriptwriter is not set in stone. A degree in literature, creative writing, or English can be a great advantage, but having only a high school diploma may be enough to start. What's more important is prowess in scriptwriting, which can be built with practice and experience even with no formal training.

The salary of a scriptwriter varies depending on the production they belong to, but in general, the average pay is around $30 an hour or about $62,000 a year.

What general advice would you give to a script writer?

Emily Griesinger Ph.D.

Professor of English, Azusa Pacific University

I would say "don't give up" because your literacy gifts are especially needed right now. Those who have done excellent critical thinking and writing as English majors can make persuasive arguments and discern the credibility of arguments being consumed by others, who may not be so discerning. Based on years of reading and interpreting great literature, you can "read" characters, why people do what they do, and the capacity to imagine the joys and sorrows of other human beings. So, my general advice would be to consider how to market such skills in creative ways for the common good.

ScoreScript WriterUS Average

Salary

5.0

Avg. Salary $64,254

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.8

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.35%

Asian 8.72%

Black or African American 6.63%

Hispanic or Latino 7.82%

Unknown 4.98%

White 71.50%

Gender

female 45.85%

male 54.15%

Age - 45

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 - 45

Stress level

4.8

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.2

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.6

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a script writer

Explore script writer education requirements

Most common script writer degrees

Bachelor's

72.8 %

Master's

10.8 %

Associate

9.3 %

Start to develop specific script writer skills

Skills	Percentages
Test Cases	20.42%
Test Scripts	20.15%
Database	19.28%
QTP	13.70%
Video Production	11.74%

Complete relevant script writer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New script 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 script writer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real script writer resumes.

Research script writer duties and responsibilities

Manage projects diligently under aggressive deadlines while maintaining editorial integrity and ensuring stories have entertainment and/or educational value.
Update and track progress test in database.
Produce several very successful features on DVD.
Contract to write and present ESL videos for company YouTube channel.

Prepare your script writer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your script 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 script 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 script writer resume templates

Build a professional script 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 script writer resume.