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Career

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipLower pressure

What they do

Create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics, for publication or performance.

Kinds of work

  • Artistic: Creating, designing and expressing ideas through art, writing, music or performance.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $76,910 Median per year · $36.98/hr Most earn $44,310–$139,870

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Choose subject matter and suitable form to express personal feelings and experiences or ideas, or to narrate stories or events.
  • Follow appropriate procedures to get copyrights for completed work.
  • Collaborate with other writers on specific projects.
  • Write fiction or nonfiction prose, such as short stories, novels, biographies, articles, descriptive or critical analyses, and essays.
  • Conduct research to obtain factual information and authentic detail, using sources such as newspaper accounts, diaries, and interviews.
  • Adapt text to accommodate musical requirements of composers and singers.

Job outlook

United States
About the same number of jobs by 2035, little or no change · about 11,900 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Self-employed (their own business)64.8%
  • Advertising, public relations, and related services4.2%
  • Independent artists, writers, and performers4.1%
  • Management, scientific, and technical consulting services2.7%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools2.1%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Many people in this career start with a certificate or short training program and then spend about 1 to 2 years building a body of work and some paid or published experience before they're usually working as poets, lyricists, or creative writers. Few people go straight from school into this job, so plan on building your portfolio over time.

  1. High school diploma plus writing courses

    0-4 years

    Build your reading and writing skills and start writing regularly, which gives you the material you'll need for a portfolio.

  2. Writer (freelance, content, or small-press work)

    1-2 years

    Get paid or published writing work, such as blog posts, short stories, poems in small magazines, or song lyrics for local artists, to show you can meet deadlines and handle feedback.

  3. Poet, Lyricist, or Creative Writer

    Ongoing

    Create original poems, lyrics, scripts, or prose for publication or performance, using the portfolio and experience you built earlier.

Where it can lead

  1. Editor

    2-4 years of experience first

    You move from creating your own work to shaping and improving other writers' work, which usually requires a strong track record, good judgment, and industry contacts.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take English and any creative writing class offeredThese courses teach craft, feedback, and revision skills that every creative writer uses.
  • Join the school literary magazine or newspaperWorking on publications gives you real deadlines, editing experience, and published pieces for your portfolio.
  • Enter writing contestsLocal and school contests give you goals to work toward and outside feedback on your writing.
  • Try open mic nights or school poetry slamsPerforming your own work builds confidence and shows you how audiences respond to words and rhythm.
  • Get a part-time job at a library or bookstoreWorking around books and readers helps you learn the publishing world and build a network of people who love writing.

In college

  • Take creative writing workshops and literature coursesWorkshops give you structured critique from peers and instructors, which speeds up your growth as a writer.
  • Join or work on the campus literary magazine, newspaper, or radio stationThese roles give you published work, editing experience, and deadlines that mirror professional writing jobs.
  • Look for a writing internship or freelance workWorking with a local publisher, newspaper, marketing team, or music group builds real experience and references.
  • Join a songwriting, poetry, or writing clubCollaborating with other writers and performers helps you learn to share your work and take feedback.
  • Check whether your school offers a writing certificateA certificate or minor in creative writing can show employers and clients that you have formal training in the craft.

Tips for getting started

  • Start a portfolio now: keep your best poems, lyrics, or stories in one organized place, and revise them regularly.
  • Submit your work to school or local literary magazines, contests, and open mics to get used to feedback and rejection.
  • Read widely in the forms you want to write, including poetry, song lyrics, and scripts, because reading is one of the best ways to improve.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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