How to earn money as a writer (infographic)

Editor’s note: This article was reviewed and updated in July 2026 to meet Expert Editor’s latest editorial standards.

Writers are in demand across more platforms than ever. Every business with a website, blog, or social media presence needs skilled writers — and that creates real opportunity whether you’re starting out or looking to grow.

The writing industry is no different from any other in that it rewards those who adapt.

Go back 10 years and the main paths to a writing career were print magazines and book publishing. Definitely no small task.

Today, you can find yourself published online in the blink of an eye, with more and more avenues opening up to be explored.

Just about every business these days has their own website, blog and social media presence. These businesses are hungry for writers that know what they’re doing and can sell in the online space.

From copywriting to writing for online publications to starting your own blog, there are so many different ways to make money as a writer. As long as you’re willing to explore different styles and niches, there are real possibilities waiting for you.

Let’s take a look at how much money freelance writers make, along with the top ways you can earn as a writer.

How much money do freelance writers earn?

Freelance writing covers a wide range of paths — you can follow your passions, specialise in a niche, or upskill into higher-paying areas.

When looking at average salaries, your chosen career path will affect how much you earn on a yearly basis. Based on data from PayScale and Glassdoor, approximate figures range from around $32,777 per year as a Research Writer to $49,685 as a Book Writer and up to $81,685 as a Speech Writer — though these figures vary by market, experience level, and change over time. Note: Before making any career or income decisions, it’s worth verifying current salary benchmarks directly with up-to-date industry sources.

Our handy infographic below outlines 18 different career opportunities as a freelance writer, along with their average monthly and yearly salary. It’s a useful guide to which skills tend to command higher rates, and could have you reconsidering your chosen career path.

But before you go ahead and make that decision, read on to discover the top 5 ways to make money as a freelance writer. Here’s a hint – they’re all online!

Top 5 ways to make money as online writer

The online world has transformed the freelance writing industry — and largely for the better. Writers can now expand their remit significantly, taking on a wider variety of tasks than traditional publishing ever allowed.

So, what exactly are the top 5 ways to make money as a writer?

1. Write for businesses

Check out our infographic for a snapshot of freelance writing opportunities. If there’s one consistent takeaway – writing is a skill businesses are actively paying for right now.

So, how do you get started?

The best thing you can do is find a niche that you love. From parenting to gardening, finance, bookkeeping, health & wellbeing and more, there are so many different niches out there, all in need of expert copywriters.

By choosing a niche you’re passionate about, you’ll be able to dive in and discover more as you go. This will make you a standout choice when it comes to expanding your client base. After all, how can a bookkeeping company resist you when you’ve been writing nothing but bookkeeping content for the past few years?

It’s a win-win.

Many people mistakenly think they need to land the big jobs when it comes to freelancing. They’re the ones that pay well. They’re the ones that will keep you working and make it worthwhile.

While this might be true in the long run, it’s about building up your portfolio. Many businesses start off with small tasks to work out whether you’re the right fit for them.

From there, most tend to keep the same copywriter on and the jobs grow from there.

It’s about getting your foot in the door and building your client base.

It also helps to build an online portfolio as you go. It’s a great collection of all the work you’ve done to date and makes it much easier to collate all your information when it comes to applying for jobs. Some of the top picks are Squarespace, WordPress, Journo Portfolio, and even ClickFunnels.

Your next question: where do you find these clients? Thankfully, there are plenty of websites out there to help you do just that. From Upwork to iWriter, scroll down to see them all listed in our infographic below.

2. Start a blog

I know, I know, you’re thinking it’s not for you. It takes a certain type to blog, right?

Wrong – anyone can become a blogger and when you take a look at what some of them are earning, you’re going to want to jump on that bandwagon as well.

There are three main ways bloggers earn money:

1. Affiliate marketing

2. Ad revenue

3. Creating their own digital product (such as a course or an eBook)

Want to know what some of the highest-earning bloggers pull in? Of course, you do.

Timothy Sykes built his platform around penny stock trading education and has reportedly earned millions per year at peak. Melyssa Griffin sells courses and at her peak earned up to $200,000 in a single month. Lachlan Brown from Hack Spirit uses affiliate marketing, advertising, and eBooks to reportedly earn $125,000 a month. The list goes on and on, and you can scroll down to see it.

But the message is clear – there’s real money to be made in the blogging industry for writers who commit to it.

You simply need to find your niche, work out your revenue streams and dive in and give it a go. You already have one thing going for you – you’re a skilled writer.

So use it!

3. Contribute to online magazines and websites

Unlike traditional magazines which go to print weekly or monthly, online magazines need to be updated regularly — often multiple times a day. If they’re hoping to stay fresh and current, then content is king. And they’re all on the hunt for skilled freelance writers who can provide it.

So, how do you go about getting published and getting paid for it?

We’ve done the hard work for you and compiled a list in our infographic of magazines that pay $500 or more for an article. Then there’s a second list with websites that will pay you up to $200 for an article.

All you need to do is carry out a little research and work out what sort of content they’re on the hunt for and get writing. It’s a solid way to build up that online portfolio of yours, while getting paid for it in the process.

Include a short pitch with information about yourself and why you think the article is a good fit for their publication. The trick is to keep it short and snappy.

4. Be an editor

With all this extra content being published in the online space, it stands to reason that expert editors are also in hot demand.

Skilled editors can earn up to $95,000 per year, depending on their specialisation and experience.

Several distinct editor roles are worth exploring, including:

• Copy editor
• Developmental editor
• Substantive editor
• Managing editor
• Line editor
• Acquisition’s editor.

And so many more!

But there are some key skills you’ll need to have up your sleeve if you’re hoping to stand out in the online world.

Businesses want to know whether or not you truly understand how this online world works. Do you know your way around WordPress? Would you be able to upload an article from scratch? Do you know what SEO is? It’s worth doing a little upskill before you dive into this career path.

Academic editing is also a niche that will never go out of fashion. If you have an academic background, then the demand for thesis editing and book editing is ongoing.

The more skills you can bring to the table, the more desirable you will be to businesses.

Bonus: Become a Kindle author on Amazon

Gone are the days of paper books. OK, that’s a bit drastic and isn’t quite true. But the Kindle has pulled many people away from paper books to enjoy the electronic variety.

What does this mean for you as a writer?

With Kindle Direct Publishing, you can publish and distribute your books to readers around the world. It’s a straightforward process with a global reach.

And there are plenty of success stories out there to motivate you.

Mike Omer writes mysteries and thrillers and has sold millions of copies across his catalogue. L.J. Ross has published more than thirty novels and sold millions of copies worldwide. James Oswald has written in the crime mysteries genre and has sold hundreds of thousands of copies. Just check out our handy infographic below to discover more.

There are plenty of ways you can succeed as a Kindle author – and it goes beyond just writing an amazing novel (although this does help).

You need to choose a topic in demand, keep on writing after that first book, and make sure you do your market research.

It’s a genuinely exciting time to be a freelance writer. Writing is a skill you can deploy across a wide range of formats and earn well from in the digital world. It’s about discovering your interests, following them, and putting your work in front of the right people.