Creative pay 2026
Copywriter salary in Illinois (2026)
Writers and copywriters in Illinois earn a median $68,220 a year ($32.80 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is 11% below the US median of $76,910; Illinois is 20th of 44 states and territories. The median for every job in Illinois is $51,960, so this pays 31% more than the typical job there.
- $68,220median a year in Illinois
- $32.80median an hour
- −11%vs the US median ($76,910)
- 2,640employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a copywriter in Illinois?
Half of writers and copywriters in Illinois earn between $43,440 and $97,280. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (3.2 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $41,830 | $44,310 | $20.11 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $43,440 | $58,230 | $20.88 |
| Median | $68,220 | $76,910 | $32.80 |
| 75th | $97,280 | $101,950 | $46.77 |
| 90th percentile | $134,400 | $139,870 | $64.61 |
The mean (average) is $77,240, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does Illinois compare with other states?
Illinois sits 20th of 44, between Texas ($69,990) and Florida ($68,080).
Which cities in Illinois pay writers and copywriters best?
Of the 2 metro areas in Illinois where BLS publishes a median for the job, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays most, at $75,940, 11% above the state median.
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,120 | $75,940 | $36.51 |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 300 | $57,390 | $27.59 |
How many writers and copywriters work in Illinois?
BLS estimates 2,640 employee jobs, 0.43 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. The job is concentrated here: Illinois's share of employment in it is 1.40 times the national share (BLS's location quotient). The employment estimate is rough: its relative standard error is 22%.
Employees only. BLS does not count the self-employed, who are a large share of several creative jobs.
What do other creative jobs pay in Illinois?
4 of the 6 other creative jobs below pay a higher median in Illinois.
| Videographer | $100,170 | 1,060 |
|---|---|---|
| UX/UI designer | $85,710 | 2,050 |
| Motion designer | $81,180 | 630 |
| Video editor | $72,460 | 310 |
| Graphic designer | $62,560 | 8,960 |
| Photographer | $36,570 | 2,150 |
What do freelance writers and copywriters charge?
Upwork, copywriters list $19 to $45 an hour, worldwide. Illinois's employee median of $32.80 an hour is inside that range. The rate calculator works out an hourly rate from the salary you want.
Questions
What is the average copywriter salary in Illinois?
The median is $68,220 a year and the mean is $77,240, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 2,640 employee jobs.
How much does a copywriter make an hour in Illinois?
The median hourly wage is $32.80. The bottom 10% earn under $20.11 and the top 10% over $64.61.
What does a starting copywriter earn in Illinois?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of writers and copywriters in Illinois earn under $43,440 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $41,830, which is the nearest guide to starting pay.
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Where do these numbers come from?
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (published 15 May 2026). Occupation 27-3043, Writers and Authors. Employees only; annual figures are hourly times 2,080.
n = 2,640 jobs in the Illinois estimate. Last updated 2 October 2026.
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Copywriter pay in other states
- District of Columbia $129,300
- Maryland $104,330
- Connecticut $98,460
- Louisiana $89,520
- California $86,480
- Washington $85,700
- Massachusetts $85,260
- Virginia $85,000
- New Jersey $81,590
- Oregon $80,540
- Pennsylvania $77,410
- Colorado $76,830