Writers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of writers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for writers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of writers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for writers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Writers?
Do writers need a degree? What kind of experience do writers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for writers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Writers
Jobs Postings for Writers By Education
- No Education Listed: 19,475 (43%)
- Bachelor's degree: 19,256 (43%)
- High School or GED: 2,637 (6%)
- Master's degree: 2,574 (6%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 881 (2%)
No education was listed by most employers of writers. According to job data, no education was required for 43% of positions. In 43% of job listings a bachelor's degree was required and in 6% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Writers
Jobs Postings for Writers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 3,182 (15%)
- 2-3 Years: 9,633 (46%)
- 4-6 Years: 5,837 (28%)
- 7-9 Years: 1,410 (7%)
- 10+ Years: 739 (4%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for writers. In 46% of job postings for Writers, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 28% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 15% of job postings for writers.
What Kind of Degree Do Writers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for writers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 26 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective writers, and in 2023 a total of 136,017 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective writers.
Top Degree Programs for Writers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Writers (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| English Language and Literature, General. | 35,412 |
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric. | 33,262 |
| Communication, General. | 11,220 |
| Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General. | 10,889 |
| Journalism. | 10,005 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| English Language and Literature, General. | 35,412 |
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric. | 33,262 |
| Communication, General. | 11,220 |
| Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General. | 10,889 |
| Journalism. | 10,005 |
| Mass Communication/Media Studies. | 9,221 |
| Creative Writing. | 7,455 |
| Advertising. | 4,277 |
| Professional, Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing. | 2,863 |
| Communication and Media Studies, Other. | 2,831 |
| Rhetoric and Composition. | 1,511 |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other. | 1,238 |
| Journalism, Other. | 1,186 |
| Playwriting and Screenwriting. | 851 |
| Broadcast Journalism. | 848 |
| Business/Corporate Communications, General. | 814 |
| Writing, General. | 742 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies, Other. | 577 |
| General Literature. | 403 |
| English Literature (British and Commonwealth). | 249 |
| Children's and Adolescent Literature. | 60 |
| Comedy Writing and Performance. | 44 |
| American Literature (United States). | 40 |
| Literature, Other. | 16 |
| Business/Corporate Communications, Other. | 3 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Communication. | 0 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Writers
Learn how to evaluate, support and integrate communications efforts to help move businesses in front of their competition, including executing strategic plans, developing print materials, and creating digital content in a variety of professional positions, such as PR specialist, copywriter and marketing coordinator.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Learn to craft clear and effective messages while adding new media communication methods to your professional toolkit.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Stand out with a specialized master’s degree focused entirely on strategically integrating marketing and communication.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Build applied skills in strategic communication alongside valuable insights into healthcare industry leadership and policy with Franklin’s 16-month online master’s in healthcare communications.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Deepen your understanding of communication principles and become a strategic communication planner and manager with Franklin’s 16-month online master’s in strategic communication.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Writers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by writers to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for writers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Writers
Based on 41,783 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Writers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | 13,019 | 31% |
| Copywriting | 10,199 | 24% |
| Social Media | 9,013 | 22% |
| Content Creation | 8,216 | 20% |
| Journalism | 8,171 | 20% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Writers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Writing | 20,342 | 49% |
| Communication | 18,448 | 44% |
| Research | 11,541 | 28% |
| Detail Oriented | 10,575 | 25% |
| Editing | 10,384 | 25% |
Based on 41,783 job postings related to writers, marketing was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 31% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for copywriting, social media, content creation, journalism and search engine optimization were also highly sought.
As for common skills, writing was the most desired skill found in job postings for writers, followed by communication, research, detail oriented, editing and english language.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | 13,019 | 31% |
| Copywriting | 10,199 | 24% |
| Social Media | 9,013 | 22% |
| Content Creation | 8,216 | 20% |
| Journalism | 8,171 | 20% |
| Search Engine Optimization | 6,174 | 15% |
| Project Management | 5,981 | 14% |
| Proofreading | 5,422 | 13% |
| Artificial Intelligence | 3,221 | 8% |
| Content Strategy | 3,177 | 8% |
| Target Audience | 3,090 | 7% |
| Digital Content | 3,048 | 7% |
| TikTok | 2,883 | 7% |
| Fact Checking | 2,877 | 7% |
| Social Media Content | 2,718 | 7% |
| Blogs | 2,397 | 6% |
| Content Development | 2,338 | 6% |
| Digital Marketing | 2,244 | 5% |
| Adobe Photoshop | 2,227 | 5% |
| Newsletters | 2,171 | 5% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Writing | 20,342 | 49% |
| Communication | 18,448 | 44% |
| Research | 11,541 | 28% |
| Detail Oriented | 10,575 | 25% |
| Editing | 10,384 | 25% |
| English Language | 10,214 | 24% |
| Grammar | 6,025 | 14% |
| Management | 6,025 | 14% |
| Leadership | 4,863 | 12% |
| Ability To Meet Deadlines | 4,776 | 11% |
| Sales | 4,733 | 11% |
| Self-Motivation | 4,729 | 11% |
| Presentations | 4,608 | 11% |
| Problem Solving | 4,547 | 11% |
| Customer Service | 4,536 | 11% |
| Time Management | 4,196 | 10% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 4,132 | 10% |
| Microsoft Office | 4,035 | 10% |
| Multitasking | 3,952 | 9% |
| Microsoft Excel | 3,827 | 9% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about writers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for writers.
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.