Writers and Authors build time management, judgment and decision making and complex problem solving skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Search Marketing Strategists (83%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Search Marketing Strategists | 83% | $78,760Pay for the broader BLS group “Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists” | Not compared | None |
| 2 | Producers and Directors | 82% | $90,360 | +17% | None |
| 3 | Art Directors | 81% | $114,850 | +49% | None |
| 4 | Talent Directors | 81% | $90,360Pay for the broader BLS group “Producers and Directors” | Not compared | None |
| 5 | Public Relations Managers | 78% | $146,910 | +91% | None |
| 6 | Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes | 78% | $82,890 | +8% | None |
| 7 | Advertising and Promotions Managers | 78% | $133,660 | +74% | None |
| 8 | Advertising Sales Agents | 77% | $64,820 | −16% | None |
| 9 | Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 75% | $78,760 | +2% | None |
| 10 | Special Effects Artists and Animators | 75% | $102,030 | +33% | None |
Compared with Writers and Authors, median $76,910. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as writers and authors (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
83% skill match · $78,760 (broader BLS group)
Systems Evaluation · Systems Analysis · Programming
82% skill match · $90,360 · +17% pay
Management of Financial Resources · Management of Material Resources · Systems Analysis
81% skill match · $114,850 · +49% pay
Operations Analysis · Management of Financial Resources · Management of Material Resources
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Search Marketing Strategists (83% skill match, median $78,760), Producers and Directors (82% skill match, median $90,360) and Art Directors (81% skill match, median $114,850), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 14 pay more than writers and authors at the median. The biggest increases: Marketing Managers (+117%, $166,790), Public Relations Managers (+91%, $146,910) and Advertising and Promotions Managers (+74%, $133,660).
25 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.