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Advertising copywriter : Salary and conditions

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  1. Job description
  2. Salary and conditions
  3. Entry requirements
  4. Training
  5. Career development
  6. Employers and vacancy …
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Case studies

  • Starting salaries for a junior copywriter: £18,000 - £22,000 a year.
  • Middleweight copywriters, those with three or more years of experience, can earn £25,000 - £40,000.
  • Senior creatives with 10-15 years' experience may earn from £45,000 to £100,000 or more.
  • Creative directors who have won campaign awards can earn over £120,000.
  • Salaries for copywriters can vary greatly depending on the size of the agency and geographical location.
  • Copywriters may be able to increase their salary by moving between agencies.
  • Working hours are generally 9am to 5pm. However flexibility is required as it is normal to work long, irregular hours when meeting tight deadlines. This may include working in the evenings and some weekend work.
  • Paid overtime is rare, but some agencies will offer time in lieu.
  • Copywriters are generally office based but may be required on TV shoots, radio recordings, castings or in editing suites. They may also visit clients, undertake research in public areas or visit different locations to help with creativity.
  • Self-employment/freelance work is possible, although this is more common for experienced copywriters.
  • Part-time work and secondments may be difficult to obtain.
  • In the UK, most of the top agencies are based in London with many also having regional offices. Most large cities have an advertising scene, in particular Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Leeds, Bristol, Brighton, Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
  • Most agencies have adopted a less formal and more relaxed dress code.
  • The work may be stressful and highly pressurised, but it can also be very exciting and rewarding.
  • Advertising is dominated by young people, with nearly half of the workforce aged below 34.
  • Many agencies have a high turnover of staff, with creatives frequently moving to different employers to progress their careers. Redundancies can also be common in the advertising industry, for example, if there is an economic downturn and/or the business is undergoing a difficult period.
 
AGCAS
Written by AGCAS editors
Date: 
July 2011
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