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Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Writers and Authors

Part of Arts, Audio/Video Technology & Communications, in the Journalism and Broadcasting pathway.

Job zone 4: considerable preparationO*NET 27-3043.00

What the work is

Originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material.

On a typical day

  • Discuss with the client the product, advertising themes and methods, and any changes that should be made in advertising copy.
  • Present drafts and ideas to clients.
  • Vary language and tone of messages based on product and medium.
  • Develop advertising campaigns for a wide range of clients, working with an advertising agency's creative director and art director to determine the best way to present advertising information.
  • Write articles, bulletins, sales letters, speeches, and other related informative, marketing and promotional material.
  • Review advertising trends, consumer surveys, and other data regarding marketing of goods and services to determine the best way to promote products.

What it pays

$74,030
Median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro
New workers start near $47,890
Experienced workers reach $106,050
  1. $48k10th
  2. $58k25th
  3. $74kMedian
  4. $103k75th
  5. $106k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $47,890, 25th $57,780, Median $74,030, 75th $103,140, 90th $106,050

About 130 people do this job in the San Antonio area.

Job outlook

Alamo region (Bexar and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034. U.S. figures from the BLS for comparison.

+11.2%

employment change in the Alamo region, 305 to 339 jobs · U.S. +4%

33

openings a year in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 13,400

305

employed in the Alamo region in 2024 · U.S. 135,400

Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree · Training: Long-term on-the-job training

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Writing5.1
  2. Reading Comprehension4.1
  3. Active Listening3.8
  4. Speaking3.8
  5. Critical Thinking4.0
  6. Time Management3.4
  7. Persuasion3.5
  8. Active Learning3.3

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. Some college35%
  2. Associate degree18%
  3. Bachelor's degree47%

Job zone 4, considerable preparation: Usually a bachelor's degree, sometimes a strong associate plus experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

  • Northeast Lakeview
  • Northwest Vista
  • Palo Alto
  • St. Philip's
  • San Antonio
  1. Speech Communication

    Transfer pre-major

  2. Mass Communication

    Transfer pre-major · Creative & Communication Arts

  3. Reading & Writing

    Transfer pre-major · Creative & Communication Arts

  4. Speech and Communication Studies

    Degree · Transfer pre-major · Creative & Communication Arts

  5. Communications

    Degree · Transfer pre-major · Creative & Communication Arts

  6. INRW (Integrated Reading & Writing)

    Alamo program · Creative & Communication Arts

  7. Speech Communication

    Degree · Transfer pre-major · Creative & Communication Arts

  8. Speech Communication

    Transfer pre-major · Creative & Communication Arts

  9. Journalism-Photography/Mass Communication

    Transfer pre-major · Creative & Communication Arts

  10. Speech

    Transfer pre-major · Creative & Communication Arts

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