Copywriter Survey 2019

This is the 2019 report. The latest results are from 2026. See the latest survey →

Copywriter Survey 2019

514 respondents · Fieldwork December–February · Published May 2019

What 514 UK copywriters earned and expected in 2019. Rates rose again, but fewer writers felt optimistic about the year ahead.

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Copywriter Survey
2019
514 UK commercial writers

Headline findings

£349
average freelance day rate
Day rates

Another small rise

The average day rate rose to £349, from £342 in 2018. Rates have grown by about £4 a year since our first survey.

£342 in 2018

30%
freelance gap, men over women
Gender pay gap

Freelance gap stays wide

Female freelance copywriters earned 30% less than their male counterparts on average. The report found the gap shrinking in other parts of the profession.

25%
concerned about Brexit
Brexit

Brexit worries grow

A quarter of copywriters were concerned about the impact of Brexit on their work. In 2018, most expected it to make no difference.

50%
feel optimistic about the year ahead
Outlook

Optimism dips

Half of respondents felt optimistic about the next 12 months, slightly down on 2018. One in ten felt pessimistic.

51% in 2018