Creative pay 2026
Copywriter salary in North Carolina (2026)
Writers and copywriters in North Carolina earn a median $63,660 a year ($30.60 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is 17% below the US median of $76,910; North Carolina is 30th of 44 states and territories. The median for every job in North Carolina is $47,970, so this pays 33% more than the typical job there.
- $63,660median a year in North Carolina
- $30.60median an hour
- −17%vs the US median ($76,910)
- 1,810employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a copywriter in North Carolina?
Half of writers and copywriters in North Carolina earn between $47,940 and $83,360. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (2.8 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $42,180 | $44,310 | $20.28 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $47,940 | $58,230 | $23.05 |
| Median | $63,660 | $76,910 | $30.60 |
| 75th | $83,360 | $101,950 | $40.08 |
| 90th percentile | $117,820 | $139,870 | $56.64 |
The mean (average) is $72,340, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does North Carolina compare with other states?
North Carolina sits 30th of 44, between Nevada ($63,910) and Iowa ($61,010).
| Georgia | $74,710 | +17% | 820 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $51,920 | −18% | 520 |
| Tennessee | $58,870 | −8% | 1,260 |
| Virginia | $85,000 | +34% | 1,530 |
Which cities in North Carolina pay writers and copywriters best?
Of the 8 metro areas in North Carolina where BLS publishes a median for the job, Durham-Chapel Hill pays most, at $84,130, 32% above the state median.
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 420 | $63,720 | $30.64 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 360 | $69,100 | $33.22 |
| Wilmington, NC | 180 | $47,940 | $23.05 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 160 | $73,460 | $35.32 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 130 | $84,130 | $40.45 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 100 | $63,270 | $30.42 |
| Asheville, NC | 90 | $70,280 | $33.79 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 50 | $61,460 | $29.55 |
How many writers and copywriters work in North Carolina?
BLS estimates 1,810 employee jobs, 0.37 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. It is about as common here as nationally (location quotient 1.19). The employment estimate is rough: its relative standard error is 18%.
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 North Carolina?
2 of the 6 other creative jobs below pay a higher median in North Carolina.
| UX/UI designer | $97,990 | 3,400 |
|---|---|---|
| Motion designer | $88,350 | 370 |
| Videographer | $62,720 | 380 |
| Video editor | $60,020 | 400 |
| Graphic designer | $58,450 | 5,660 |
| Photographer | $37,120 | 2,130 |
What do freelance writers and copywriters charge?
Upwork, copywriters list $19 to $45 an hour, worldwide. North Carolina's employee median of $30.60 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 North Carolina?
The median is $63,660 a year and the mean is $72,340, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 1,810 employee jobs.
How much does a copywriter make an hour in North Carolina?
The median hourly wage is $30.60. The bottom 10% earn under $20.28 and the top 10% over $56.64.
What does a starting copywriter earn in North Carolina?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of writers and copywriters in North Carolina earn under $47,940 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $42,180, 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 = 1,810 jobs in the North Carolina 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