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Arts & Media · Usually needs a bachelor's degree

Poets (Lyricists and Creative Writers)

O*NET title: Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

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

Also called: Author, Blog Content Writer, Blog Writer, Blogger, Children's Author, Comic Book Writer

Is this career right for me?

Median pay

$76,910

Pay for the broader BLS group “Writers and Authors”

Pay range (10th–90th)

$44,310 – $139,870

People employed

47,940

Whole BLS group

Holland code

AIE

Artistic · Investigative · Enterprising

Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers

Is this career right for you?

These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.

  1. 1.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
  2. 2.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
  3. 3.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
  4. 4.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
  5. 5.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
  6. 6.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
  7. 7.Are you OK with hours that change?
  8. 8.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?

Poets (Lyricists and Creative Writers) pay by state

Highest-paying states

District of Columbia$129,300
Maryland$104,330
Connecticut$98,460
Vermont$94,430
Louisiana$89,520

Lowest-paying states

Arkansas$47,970
Kentucky$48,780
Wyoming$49,650

Annual median pay by state (42 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, for the broader group “Writers and Authors”.

Poets (Lyricists and Creative Writers) salary in every state →

What poets (lyricists and creative writers) do

  1. 01Write fiction or nonfiction prose, such as short stories, novels, biographies, articles, descriptive or critical analyses, and essays.
  2. 02Develop factors such as themes, plots, characterizations, psychological analyses, historical environments, action, and dialogue to create material.
  3. 03Revise written material to meet personal standards and to satisfy needs of clients, publishers, directors, or producers.
  4. 04Choose subject matter and suitable form to express personal feelings and experiences or ideas, or to narrate stories or events.
  5. 05Prepare works in appropriate format for publication, and send them to publishers or producers.
  6. 06Write narrative, dramatic, lyric, or other types of poetry for publication.

Skills that matter most

  • Writing
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Speaking
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Learning
  • Active Listening

Knowledge

  • English Language
  • Communications and Media
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Administrative
  • Sales and Marketing

Work styles that stand out

  • Intellectual Curiosity
  • Achievement Orientation
  • Innovation
  • Tolerance for Ambiguity

Education and first steps

Less than a High School Diploma14%
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)9%
Some College Courses27%
Bachelor's Degree32%
Master's Degree9%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.9%

Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.

How people get started

  • Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
  • Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
  • On-the-job training: none or short demonstration.

Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.

Interest fit (Holland code)

Realistic1.17
Investigative3.58
Artistic7.00
Social2.83
Enterprising3.17
Conventional2.88

O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.

Career changes

Change from poets (lyricists and creative writers)

See all jobs for former poets (lyricists and creative writers) →

Change into poets (lyricists and creative writers)

Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).

Jobs similar to poets (lyricists and creative writers) →

Majors that lead here

  • Communication, General
  • Speech Communication and Rhetoric
  • Mass Communication/Media Studies
  • Journalism
  • Broadcast Journalism
  • Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
  • Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Communication
  • Writing, General
  • Creative Writing
  • Professional, Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing
  • Rhetoric and Composition
  • Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies, Other

From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.

Free help near you

You can get free career counseling, job search help and, if you qualify, help paying for training through American Job Centers, which are funded by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Find an American Job CenterFind training programs

Links go to CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Keep exploring

Sources. O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0): description, tasks, skills, knowledge, work styles, education, interests and work context. Pay and employment: BLS OEWS May 2025 (national and state). Majors: NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Data Sources & Licenses