How Much Does A Copywriter Cost? These Are The Standard Rates for 2022

What does a copywriter cost? This is a question that every organization looking for a copywriter asks themselves, and rightly so. After all, this is a fair question! As copywriters come in all sizes and weights, before you do business with a copywriter in Hong Kong or New York, or any other part of the world, it is best to know the standard prices in the current market.

Anyone who hires a copywriter naturally wants clarity about the costs in advance. The rates differ depending on the type of work and the copywriter. There are also major differences in quality, and therefore price, in this liberal profession. You can see that in the rates, but rates don't tell the whole story either. Globally, the hourly rate of solid, professional copywriters is between 70 and 120 USD (excluding taxes). We will show what you need to assess costs more precisely based on a few scant studies in this area.

Tip: Look for good copywriters first

Finding a good copywriter is not always easy since unfortunately, there is a lot of 'chaff among the wheat' in this liberal profession. Further, finding a good copywriter who fits your organization and assignments may also be quite difficult. Here are a few guidelines that will help you zero in on the right candidate.

A good copywriter…

• says more with less.
• knows how to touch the sensitive nerve of your target group.
• thinks strategically with you.
• doesn't just write down what you say.
• keeps asking and thinks along with you.
• can quickly understand the subject matter.
• and thus can write down copy that is a highly attractive way for your target group(s).

Our advice: first look for solid copywriters that suit you. And think carefully about what exactly you are looking for. Then delve into the exact costs. Otherwise, you will compare apples with oranges, and will likely make a wrong decision. Also, don't just look at 'quality vs cost', but also what the copy will yield. After all, hiring a copywriter should be an investment that pays for itself.

What does a copywriter cost per hour?

Back to the key question: What does a copywriter cost? You can make different types of price agreements (per hour, article, partial assignment, or even per word). Hourly is the most common, especially when comparing rates. Ask a copywriter – certainly in the beginning – for an hourly estimate, so that you really know in advance what you will ultimately pay.

There is little good research data on the rates of copywriters. Affiliated copywriters are always serious professionals who attach great importance to quality and development. That is also a valuable first filter when you are looking for a copywriter.

A survey among these professionals in 2021 showed that about half of professional copywriters charge a rate between $20 and $60 and the topmost of these writers charge $100 and above. A small percentage charge even higher amounts.

Copywriters Rates 2022

The rates from 2021 are now somewhat outdated. With inflation adjustments, it comes down to the following amounts:
45% charge an hourly rate between $22 and $65 (excl. taxes)
37% charge an hourly rate between $120 and $150 (excl. taxes)

Why are there differences in copywriting prices?

What is the difference between the hourly rates of copywriters, which are usually somewhere between $55 and $120? This is mainly due to the experience and possible specializations of copywriters and the type of copy they write.

After all, writing a high-quality and strategic corporate story, editing texts, or 'production work' of large amounts of quantitative 'content' requires different qualities. Higher quality craftsmanship simply costs a bit more and, if done right, also yields more.

The hourly rate often says something about the quality you can expect from a copywriter, but again not everything. Hence, you will want to evaluate the competencies and demonstrable experience of a copywriter and whether they fit what you are looking for. Then you can also look at a reasonable price-quality ratio.

How to Hire the Best Copywriters at the Lowest Costs?

In the field of copywriting, professional skills are not always directly related to how much the copywriter is charging. The easiest way to understand this is by comparing the standard costs of hiring a native copywriter from an English-speaking country to that of a bilingual writer with English as their second language.

It’s perfectly reasonable to always demand that a native English copywriter be assigned to English language projects. This is why global organizations relying on copywriting agencies in Hong Kong or other parts of the world for their local or regional projects should only work with a partner that only has native writers on its roster.

The result? While most organizations agree that qualified international copywriting agencies are on par with their UK- or US-based peers, however, when it comes to cost, the difference speaks volumes about why more and more organizations are looking to contract with overseas agencies located in overseas jurisdictions where the cost of doing business and tax rates may be significantly lower.

In some cases, these organizations have been able to save up to 40% in their copywriting costs simply by switching to overseas agencies. In addition to the quality of content, a few copywriters in Hong Kong were also reviewed as more reliable, hardworking, and easy to work with.

Should you outsource your copywriting work?

Short answer, yes. In both the short and the long run, you will be able to cut down your costs by a significant amount without compromising on the quality of the content that you plan to use for all your brand and corporate communications.

However, you’ll have to be extra selective before you shake hands with an overseas copywriter. The best way to judge a copywriter or a copywriting agency is by checking their portfolio. Considering the savings associated with hiring professional, talented copywriters from abroad, it’s safe to say that investing a little more time in researching for the most suitable writer is definitely worth it.