The job market for authors in the United States

There are currently an estimated 135,400 authors in the United States. The author job market is expected to grow by 3.6% between 2024 and 2034.

How employable are authors?

CareerExplorer rates authors with a D employability rating, meaning this career should provide weak employment opportunities for the foreseeable future. Over the next 10 years, it is expected the US will need 4,900 authors.

Are authors in demand?

The expansion of web-based publications, in particular, is expected to positively impact the demand for writers and editors. Bloggers and technical writers for interactive media should experience considerable growth opportunities, especially as print magazines, businesses, non-profit organizations, and associations develop exclusively digital content. Journalists and content writers with training in specialized fields such as law, medicine, or economics will likely encounter significant job prospects because of the continuing need to communicate technical information to target audiences. In general, as online publications and services expand and become more sophisticated, authors and editors with Web experience will be in increasing demand. High-tech and electronics industries will need instruction manuals, guides, and training materials written by technically skilled copywriters who are also familiar with very specific subject areas. Despite the diverse need for authors and editors who have adapted to the electronic and digital media, competition is expected to be high and job seekers will likely outnumber job openings. Aspiring novelists, poets, screenwriters, and playwrights will contend with pronounced challenges in what have been professions with traditionally low-success rates for new entrants. However, the declining cost of self-publishing and popularity of electronic books will allow more freelancers to publish their work and increase their chances of success in their chosen fields.

What’s the supply of authors?

The author industry is concentrated in California, New York, Florida

Author job market by state