Creative pay 2026
Copywriter salary in Virginia (2026)
Writers and copywriters in Virginia earn a median $85,000 a year ($40.87 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is 11% more than the US median of $76,910, and 9th of 44 states and territories with published figures. The median for every job in Virginia is $55,690, so this pays 53% more than the typical job there.
- $85,000median a year in Virginia
- $40.87median an hour
- +11%vs the US median ($76,910)
- 1,530employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a copywriter in Virginia?
Half of writers and copywriters in Virginia earn between $64,730 and $104,000. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (3.0 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $44,190 | $44,310 | $21.25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $64,730 | $58,230 | $31.12 |
| Median | $85,000 | $76,910 | $40.87 |
| 75th | $104,000 | $101,950 | $50.00 |
| 90th percentile | $131,040 | $139,870 | $63.00 |
The mean (average) is $88,260, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does Virginia compare with other states?
Virginia sits 9th of 44, between Massachusetts ($85,260) and New Jersey ($81,590).
| Kentucky | $48,780 | −43% | 350 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $104,330 | +23% | 540 |
| North Carolina | $63,660 | −25% | 1,810 |
| Tennessee | $58,870 | −31% | 1,260 |
| West Virginia | $64,410 | −24% | 110 |
| District of Columbia | $129,300 | +52% | 1,050 |
Which cities in Virginia pay writers and copywriters best?
Of the 5 metro areas in Virginia where BLS publishes a median for the job, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays most, at $108,460, 28% above the state median.
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 2,060 | $108,460 | $52.14 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | 230 | $74,300 | $35.72 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 160 | $73,460 | $35.32 |
| Charlottesville, VA | 70 | $76,990 | $37.01 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | 40 | $57,600 | $27.69 |
How many writers and copywriters work in Virginia?
BLS estimates 1,530 employee jobs, 0.37 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. It is about as common here as nationally (location quotient 1.21).
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 Virginia?
Copywriter is the best-paid of these creative jobs in Virginia.
| Motion designer | $81,510 | 380 |
|---|---|---|
| Video editor | $78,740 | n/a |
| UX/UI designer | $77,140 | 1,990 |
| Graphic designer | $72,310 | 4,740 |
| Videographer | $58,440 | 420 |
| Photographer | $46,550 | 1,580 |
What do freelance writers and copywriters charge?
Upwork, copywriters list $19 to $45 an hour, worldwide. Virginia's employee median of $40.87 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 Virginia?
The median is $85,000 a year and the mean is $88,260, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 1,530 employee jobs.
How much does a copywriter make an hour in Virginia?
The median hourly wage is $40.87. The bottom 10% earn under $21.25 and the top 10% over $63.00.
What does a starting copywriter earn in Virginia?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of writers and copywriters in Virginia earn under $64,730 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $44,190, 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 = 1,530 jobs in the Virginia 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
- New Jersey $81,590
- Oregon $80,540
- Pennsylvania $77,410
- Colorado $76,830
- Indiana $75,820