Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers in Pennsylvania
Want to work as a Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers in Pennsylvania? Below are the key facts. Originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material. Excludes “News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists” (27-3023), “Public Relations Specialists” (27-3031), and “Technical Writers” (27-3042).
What do Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers Make in Pennsylvania?
For a poets, lyricists and creative writers working in Pennsylvania, the median annual wage is $58,170 per year (or roughly $27.97/hour).Annual wages span from $21,030 at the 10th percentile to $134,780 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $21,030 | $10.11 |
| 25th percentile | $45,640 | $21.94 |
| Median (50th) | $58,170 | $27.97 |
| 75th percentile | $85,490 | $41.10 |
| 90th percentile | $134,780 | $64.80 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Pennsylvania compared to the national average — is 0.73, indicating fewer poets, lyricists and creative writers per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, poets, lyricists and creative writers earn a median of $70,619 per year ($33.95/hour), below the Pennsylvania median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 161,049 poets, lyricists and creative writers nationwide. In Pennsylvania alone, approximately 1,360 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 580 poets, lyricists and creative writers.
Top Pennsylvania Metros for Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
The largest metro-area employers of poets, lyricists and creative writers in Pennsylvania.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 720 | $75,890 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 190 | $49,020 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 60 | $66,560 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 40 | $67,350 |
| Lancaster, PA | 40 | $52,720 |
| Reading, PA | 30 | $49,910 |
Top States for Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers Employment
These states have the highest employment of poets, lyricists and creative writers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 8,950 |
| New York | 5,980 |
| Florida | 2,440 |
| North Carolina | 2,170 |
| Texas | 2,100 |
| Illinois | 2,010 |
| Virginia | 1,630 |
| New Jersey | 1,610 |
| Colorado | 1,540 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,360 |
| Massachusetts | 1,260 |
| District of Columbia | 1,240 |
| Tennessee | 1,220 |
| Georgia | 1,200 |
| Minnesota | 980 |
| Ohio | 960 |
| Washington | 900 |
| Michigan | 860 |
| Oregon | 850 |
| Connecticut | 640 |
Highest-Paying States for Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
Where poets, lyricists and creative writers earn the most: poets, lyricists and creative writers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $121,160 |
| Maryland | $107,540 |
| Washington | $86,170 |
| Vermont | $86,040 |
| Virginia | $80,990 |
| Connecticut | $80,950 |
| California | $80,470 |
| Massachusetts | $78,440 |
| Oregon | $77,830 |
| New Jersey | $75,640 |
Skills
Key poets, lyricists and creative writers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for poets, lyricists and creative writers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers typically:
- Write fiction or nonfiction prose, such as short stories, novels, biographies, articles, descriptive or critical analyses, and essays.
- Develop factors such as themes, plots, characterizations, psychological analyses, historical environments, action, and dialogue to create material.
- Revise written material to meet personal standards and to satisfy needs of clients, publishers, directors, or producers.
- Choose subject matter and suitable form to express personal feelings and experiences or ideas, or to narrate stories or events.
- Prepare works in appropriate format for publication, and send them to publishers or producers.
- Conduct research to obtain factual information and authentic detail, using sources such as newspaper accounts, diaries, and interviews.
- Confer with clients, editors, publishers, or producers to discuss changes or revisions to written material.
- Plan project arrangements or outlines, and organize material accordingly.
- Follow appropriate procedures to get copyrights for completed work.
- Attend book launches and publicity events, or conduct public readings.
- Write narrative, dramatic, lyric, or other types of poetry for publication.
- Write words to fit musical compositions, including lyrics for operas, musical plays, and choral works.
Work Activities
- Thinking Creatively
- Getting Information
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Working with Computers
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Developing Objectives and Strategies
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Selling or Influencing Others
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Creative Cloud software
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
- Communication & Media Studies
- Journalism
- Other Communication & Journalism
- Writing Studies
- Literature
- Drama & Theater Arts
- Corporate Communications
- Human Sciences Business Services
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Related Careers
Careers similar to poets, lyricists and creative writers include:
- Historians
- Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
- English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
- Curators
- Art Directors
- Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
Also Known As
Author, Blog Content Writer, Blog Writer, Blogger, Children's Author, Comic Book Writer, Comic Writer, Community Blogger, Content Writer, Continuity Writer, Creative Writer, Crossword Puzzle Maker, Documentary Storyteller, Dramatist, Editorial Writer.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 27-3043.05