Creative pay 2026
Copywriter salary in Tennessee (2026)
Writers and copywriters in Tennessee earn a median $58,870 a year ($28.30 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is 23% below the US median of $76,910; Tennessee is 32nd of 44 states and territories. The median for every job in Tennessee is $47,380, so this pays 24% more than the typical job there.
- $58,870median a year in Tennessee
- $28.30median an hour
- −23%vs the US median ($76,910)
- 1,260employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a copywriter in Tennessee?
Half of writers and copywriters in Tennessee earn between $47,120 and $78,900. Pay is bunched more tightly than nationally: the 90th percentile is 2.6 times the 10th, against 3.2 times across the US.
| 10th percentile | $38,720 | $44,310 | $18.62 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $47,120 | $58,230 | $22.65 |
| Median | $58,870 | $76,910 | $28.30 |
| 75th | $78,900 | $101,950 | $37.94 |
| 90th percentile | $100,910 | $139,870 | $48.51 |
The mean (average) is $66,180, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does Tennessee compare with other states?
Tennessee sits 32nd of 44, between Iowa ($61,010) and Oklahoma ($58,770).
Which cities in Tennessee pay writers and copywriters best?
Of the 5 metro areas in Tennessee where BLS publishes a median for the job, Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin pays most, at $63,270, 7% above the state median.
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 520 | $63,270 | $30.42 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TN | 180 | $63,080 | $30.33 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 170 | $58,480 | $28.12 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 110 | $61,400 | $29.52 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | 40 | $57,600 | $27.69 |
How many writers and copywriters work in Tennessee?
BLS estimates 1,260 employee jobs, 0.39 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. The job is concentrated here: Tennessee's share of employment in it is 1.25 times the national share (BLS's location quotient). The employment estimate is rough: its relative standard error is 15%.
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 Tennessee?
2 of the 6 other creative jobs below pay a higher median in Tennessee.
| Motion designer | $83,080 | 90 |
|---|---|---|
| UX/UI designer | $63,510 | 3,610 |
| Video editor | $57,880 | 560 |
| Graphic designer | $57,270 | 3,880 |
| Videographer | $57,030 | 460 |
| Photographer | $37,950 | 780 |
What do freelance writers and copywriters charge?
Upwork, copywriters list $19 to $45 an hour, worldwide. Tennessee's employee median of $28.30 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 Tennessee?
The median is $58,870 a year and the mean is $66,180, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 1,260 employee jobs.
How much does a copywriter make an hour in Tennessee?
The median hourly wage is $28.30. The bottom 10% earn under $18.62 and the top 10% over $48.51.
What does a starting copywriter earn in Tennessee?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of writers and copywriters in Tennessee earn under $47,120 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $38,720, 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 = 1,260 jobs in the Tennessee 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