Copywriter Survey 2020

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Copywriter Survey 2020

640 respondents · Fieldwork January · Published July 2020

640 UK copywriters told us about their work in January 2020, weeks before the pandemic. Rates and incomes were rising.

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Copywriter Survey
2020
640 UK commercial writers

Headline findings

£379
average freelance day rate
Day rates

Rates break out

After years around £340 to £350, the average day rate rose to £379. That is a 9% rise on 2019.

£349 in 2019

£42,792
average full-time freelance income
Earnings

Freelance income climbs

Full-time freelancers earned an average of £42,792. In-house and agency writers also reported higher earnings.

4%
freelance gap, men over women
Gender pay gap

Freelance gap nearly closes

The gender pay gap among freelancers fell to 4%, from 30% in 2019. Across all copywriters the gap was still 27%.

30% in 2019 (freelance)

51%
have done copywriting training
Training

Training goes mainstream

For the first time, more than half of respondents had completed copywriting-specific training. More copywriters are also specialising in SEO and digital work.