| Soooo. You're interested in how much ad | | | | ads. And they have the right to do just that. |
| copywriters actually make, are you? Don't be | | | | To these people, titles mean absolutely |
| embarrassed. You can say that you are. | | | | nothing...since in the end, all creatives at all |
| Well hand onto your socks, because the average | | | | agencies go after every project as an equal. |
| salary of ad copywriters is anything but ordinary. | | | | Meaning the most senior ad people compete |
| Junior ad copywriters right out of ad school | | | | against the most junior people ALL THE TIME. |
| certainly don't make what MBA's make, but it's | | | | And if it weren't for all the politics involved, the |
| nothing that would require us to grab a Kleenex | | | | junior guys usually come up with better work. |
| and well up with tears. With portfolios that still | | | | (They're not yet tarnished in the business.) |
| boast that 'new car smell', good junior copywriters | | | | Moving on from Copywriter is Senior Copywriter |
| start at about $25 to $35K. (Obviously as you | | | | ($65 thousand...give or take) Associate Creative |
| hear these numbers, be aware that the lower | | | | Director ($75-$90 plus the added benefit of those |
| numbers are usually more correct, whereas the | | | | two gorgeous words: "Creative Director." |
| upper numbers could be MUCH higher.) | | | | Creative Directors make up to and above $200 |
| Once a year or two has passed and the junior | | | | thousand. Then there's Group Creative Directors |
| writer has done some good old fashioned ad | | | | (can be up to $300K, and Executive Creative |
| producing, a full fledged ad copywriter in New | | | | Directors (who, in the big 6 cities across the |
| York and Chicago and San Fran should already be | | | | country can make four five and six hundred |
| making close to or slightly above fifty thousand. | | | | thousand.) |
| Not too shabby when you think that a salary | | | | And if you find these numbers nuts, DO NOT |
| could potentially double in just a year and a half! | | | | even consider that there are still at least two or |
| Is it any wonder why people are standing in lines | | | | three levels above that! |
| around city blocks with their portfolios? | | | | Mercy. |
| Okay, here's an interesting point...many ad | | | | So the next time you're out for drinks with an ad |
| copywriters choose never to go above the rank | | | | copywriter or an art director, absolutely, under no |
| of Copywriter. Why? | | | | circumstances, should you ever reach for YOUR |
| Because they want never to have to manage | | | | wallet when the waiter shows up. |
| people. They don't want to do anything but write | | | | |