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Writer vs proposal writer

The differences between writers and proposal writers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a writer, becoming a proposal writer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a proposal writer has an average salary of $68,706, which is higher than the $66,143 average annual salary of a writer.

The top three skills for a writer include work ethic, customer service and web content. The most important skills for a proposal writer are subject matter experts, powerpoint, and business development.

Writer vs proposal writer overview

WriterProposal Writer
Yearly salary$66,143$68,706
Hourly rate$31.80$33.03
Growth rate4%6%
Number of jobs13,93118,125
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age4246
Years of experience42

What does a writer do?

A writer can have different responsibilities depending on which industry or line of work they are involved. There are writers assigned in a corporate setting, some in journalism, while there are also writers in the entertainment Industry. Although they focus on varying types of writing, they all function to inform. Among the typical duties of writers involve producing content within allotted time or deadline, gather information and verify to ensure accuracy, proofread, and undergo review and revisions.

What does a proposal writer do?

Proposal Writers help clients win contracts, grants from the government, or even permission to perform a consulting service. They must ensure that all important information is included in the paperwork and documents.

Writer vs proposal writer salary

Writers and proposal writers have different pay scales, as shown below.

WriterProposal Writer
Average salary$66,143$68,706
Salary rangeBetween $40,000 And $107,000Between $48,000 And $97,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateMassachusettsVirginia
Best paying companyApplePrecise Software Solutions
Best paying industry-Insurance

Differences between writer and proposal writer education

There are a few differences between a writer and a proposal writer in terms of educational background:

WriterProposal Writer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common majorEnglishEnglish
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyNorthwestern University

Writer vs proposal writer demographics

Here are the differences between writers' and proposal writers' demographics:

WriterProposal Writer
Average age4246
Gender ratioMale, 46.2% Female, 53.8%Male, 38.5% Female, 61.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 5.0% White, 75.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 8.7% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage16%11%

Differences between writer and proposal writer duties and responsibilities

Writer example responsibilities.

  • Operate AP NEWSCENTER/ENPS and manage CNN feed services.
  • Manage the Instagram account, which mean publishing and keeping up to date with the articles.
  • Manage projects diligently under aggressive deadlines while maintaining editorial integrity and ensuring stories have entertainment and/or educational value.
  • Participate in roundtable discussions offering hot takes and opinions on NBA and NFL teams, players, and coaches.
  • Train all staff on using the CMS.
  • Place stories into CS3 InDesign pages.
  • Show more

Proposal writer example responsibilities.

  • Manage proposals for DoD, aerospace, and commercial customers.
  • Manage prospective client information, proposal and marketing strategies through Salesforce.
  • Analyze contract documents, coordinate subcontractors and manage RFI s throughout cost proposal submission process.
  • Identify, plan, manage and respond to RFPs and RFIs from prospective clients, resulting in increase potential business.
  • Implement Salesforce for division and manage pipeline and post-award contract documentation.
  • Manage SharePoint file organization system and wiki cooperation sites to facilitate cooperation among internal and external proposal response participants.
  • Show more

Writer vs proposal writer skills

Common writer skills
  • Work Ethic, 18%
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Web Content, 8%
  • Math, 7%
  • SEO, 5%
  • SQL, 3%
Common proposal writer skills
  • Subject Matter Experts, 12%
  • PowerPoint, 7%
  • Business Development, 6%
  • Proposal Content, 6%
  • Past Performance, 6%
  • Project Management, 5%

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