Creative pay 2026
Copywriter salary in Washington (2026)
Writers and copywriters in Washington earn a median $85,700 a year ($41.20 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is 11% more than the US median of $76,910, and 7th of 44 states and territories with published figures. The median for every job in Washington is $62,990, so this pays 36% more than the typical job there.
- $85,700median a year in Washington
- $41.20median an hour
- +11%vs the US median ($76,910)
- 770employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a copywriter in Washington?
Half of writers and copywriters in Washington earn between $65,330 and $109,000. 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 | $50,600 | $44,310 | $24.33 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $65,330 | $58,230 | $31.41 |
| Median | $85,700 | $76,910 | $41.20 |
| 75th | $109,000 | $101,950 | $52.40 |
| 90th percentile | $129,480 | $139,870 | $62.25 |
The mean (average) is $90,740, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does Washington compare with other states?
Washington sits 7th of 44, between California ($86,480) and Massachusetts ($85,260).
| Idaho | $56,360 | −34% | 90 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $80,540 | −6% | 950 |
Which cities in Washington pay writers and copywriters best?
Of the 3 metro areas in Washington where BLS publishes a median for the job, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pays most, at $98,730, 15% above the state median.
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 600 | $87,560 | $42.10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 520 | $98,730 | $47.47 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 60 | $62,060 | $29.84 |
How many writers and copywriters work in Washington?
BLS estimates 770 employee jobs, 0.22 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. The job is rarer here than nationally: a location quotient of 0.71, where 1 is the US average. The employment estimate is rough: its relative standard error is 20%.
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 Washington?
2 of the 6 other creative jobs below pay a higher median in Washington.
| Motion designer | $133,480 | 1,130 |
|---|---|---|
| UX/UI designer | $130,480 | 11,580 |
| Graphic designer | $72,710 | 3,960 |
| Video editor | $66,870 | 450 |
| Videographer | $60,250 | 440 |
| Photographer | $48,050 | 960 |
What do freelance writers and copywriters charge?
Upwork, copywriters list $19 to $45 an hour, worldwide. Washington's employee median of $41.20 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 Washington?
The median is $85,700 a year and the mean is $90,740, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 770 employee jobs.
How much does a copywriter make an hour in Washington?
The median hourly wage is $41.20. The bottom 10% earn under $24.33 and the top 10% over $62.25.
What does a starting copywriter earn in Washington?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of writers and copywriters in Washington earn under $65,330 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $50,600, 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 = 770 jobs in the Washington 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
- Massachusetts $85,260
- Virginia $85,000
- New Jersey $81,590
- Oregon $80,540
- Pennsylvania $77,410
- Colorado $76,830
- Indiana $75,820