Writers and Authors

AUTOMATION RISK
CALCULATED
49%
risk level
POLLING
36%
Based on 1,190 votes
LABOR DEMAND
GROWTH
4.1%
by year 2032
WAGES
$73,150
or $35.17 per hour
Volume
54,010
as of 2022
SUMMARY
JOB SCORE
5.3/10

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Automation risk

49% (Moderate Risk)

Moderate Risk (41-60%): Occupations with a moderate risk of automation usually involve routine tasks but still require some human judgment and interaction.

More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.

Some quite important qualities of the job are difficult to automate:

  • Originality

  • Persuasion

  • Social Perceptiveness

Impact of Chat GPT on this occupation

We've received many comments and emails about Chat GPT and it's impact on this occupation. It's very impressive software, so people are understandably worried and/or excited.

However, something important to note with regards to the score we've calculated here, is that this occupation is comprised of many different types of job roles. Some examples of these include Advertising Writer, Blurb Writer, Copywriter and Screenwriter.

Some roles/tasks are more susceptible than other's to being automated by Chat GPT, but the score we've calculated is one that's an amalgamation of all of them.

Unfortunately, the source for our data (o*net) doesn't split this category up to the individual roles, so we can't calculate a score for each of them. If they do at some point in the future, we'll do the same, and generate scores accordingly.

Writing occupations aren't dead, but they are changing, so the best advice we can offer is to keep up to date with the latest developments, and use the tools available to your advantage.

User poll

36% chance of full automation within the next two decades

Our visitors have voted there's a low chance this occupation will be automated. This assessment is further supported by the calculated automation risk level, which estimates 49% chance of automation.

What do you think the risk of automation is?

What is the likelihood that Writers and Authors will be replaced by robots or artificial intelligence within the next 20 years?






Sentiment

The following graph(s) are included wherever there is a substantial amount of votes to render meaningful data. These visual representations display user poll results over time, providing a significant indication of sentiment trends.

Sentiment over time (quarterly)

Sentiment over time (yearly)

Growth

Moderate growth relative to other professions

The number of 'Writers and Authors' job openings is expected to rise 4.1% by 2032

Total employment, and estimated job openings

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the period between 2021 and 2031
Updated projections are due 09-2023.

Wages

High paid relative to other professions

In 2022, the median annual wage for 'Writers and Authors' was $73,150, or $35 per hour

'Writers and Authors' were paid 58.0% higher than the national median wage, which stood at $46,310

Wages over time

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Volume

Moderate range of job opportunities compared to other professions

As of 2022 there were 54,010 people employed as 'Writers and Authors' within the United States.

This represents around < 0.001% of the employed workforce across the country

Put another way, around 1 in 2 thousand people are employed as 'Writers and Authors'.

Job description

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

SOC Code: 27-3043.00

Resources

Will Chat GPT spell the end of blogging?

Here's a very informative video from Ricky Kesler from Income School about Chat GPT as it relates to blogging (and SEO). We think it contains great advice, and can be applied to all sorts of writing job roles, not just bloggers.

If you're thinking of starting a new career, or looking to change jobs, we've created a handy job search tool which might just help you land that perfect new role.

Search jobs in your local area

Comments

Leave a comment

Penguin (No chance) says
Robots cannot have experiences. They just spit out a cacophony of random words with no care as to a message or logic or ethics.
Mar 15, 2024 at 01:21 AM
M (Low) says
In the United States, creative material developed by AI cannot be trademarked and therefore unprofitable.
Jan 18, 2024 at 04:55 AM
Dakshay (Moderate) says
If AI keeps improving, certainly studios will start using AI generated scripts to make movies/tv shows/ books. They will be garbage generic stuff in the beginning but at one point AI will certainly be able to write as well as a human. So writers working for studios will be in danger. But I think big established authors like Brandon Sanderson, have planned projects for decades later. And people will still buy their books because they love the stories. I think if you can cultivate a community of dedicated fans, you can definitely make a killing (or at least a livable income.)
Personally, I would hate to see the art of storytelling to be turned over to machines.
Jan 07, 2024 at 09:23 AM
Tom P (Low) says
The creativity of a human cannot be replicated by robots, at least for many decades. It is so complex that we don't even understand it. However, I believe robots could potentially take over short-form content without many underlying creative choices.
Sep 01, 2023 at 05:17 AM
d (No chance) says
If you believe that people engage with writers purely because it's "content", I must inform you that this job would have already been eliminated a long, long time ago simply by SEO.

ChatGPT is not going to write things that people care about. This isn't because chatgpt is a bad writer - it's because people primarily consume written content because of the person behind it. Since the dawn of the internet, and even before, there have been an infinite number of takes, a vast supply of content. Yet, somehow, people still pay for newspapers, and substacks, and books, and all sorts of things that are seemingly available for free with just a Google search. It's because of the particulars of that person's perspective, not just "story good" or "take good."

There are already far more failed writers than successful ones, and far more failed "in the style of" works than actual successful works. What AI will do is simply raise the stakes for what it takes to be a successful writer or author, since it establishes a baseline commodity. However, that baseline is already very, very high.
Aug 23, 2023 at 08:13 AM
maushri deb (No chance) says
Being a writer human touch is very important.
Aug 08, 2023 at 06:22 PM
Monty O’Brien (No chance) says
Good novels are novel.
May 08, 2023 at 09:09 PM
yokoso (Highly likely) says
it's already done for web writing, copywriting with chat gtp, bard and many other. AI can generate more and more accurate and imaginative stories, facts and a style of writing proper to an author. it's possible to train AI to seems more and more human without inconsistencies in the stories.
it's not gonna replace real writers yet but it is coming like winter.
Mar 06, 2023 at 09:25 AM
Jay. (Highly likely) says
AI wil only get better here on out. With the push a button or voice command it will generate content that is not only factual but fitting in style and emotions for the target audience. Humans will merely check over the work. But the brunt of the work will be produced by AI.
Feb 20, 2023 at 05:12 AM
Blue Balled Media (Moderate) says
ChatGPT and services like it are rising, I don't think writers will be completely replaced by automation. It depends on the type of writing, I think the Human element will still be vital for storytelling, and wisdom.
Humans are still the best storytellers.
Jan 25, 2023 at 04:45 PM
Andrei (Highly likely) says
Chatgpt is better than most authours on the planet right now.
Jan 20, 2023 at 09:01 PM
Writer (Moderate) says
It's difficult to say. As an author myself I deeply hope that human writers continue to flourish. It is clear that through AI the number of stories on the market will rise. The market will become saturated with average stories and the need to differentiate ourselves through our writing quality and our human brand will become ever more important.

Personally I went into this field because I absolutely thought I could write better than the average book, and that the "cream will rise to the top". I still believe this is true.

Where I get worried is if AI can learn to write fiction really well. Can an AI in 10 years learn beyond what it is taught (fed average books) and create amazing stories? That's what really scares me.

Will people want to read a story written by an AI or will people want to read stories written by humans? There's an element of detachment when reading AI writing and the uncanny valley effect might take hold when we read an AI trying to present human emotions through character. We will know - whoever put those words down did not understand them and they will have less meaning. Or will they? If they make sense they make sense. If it has emotional impact it has emotional impact - even if that was replicated through pulp learning and mastered through engagement scores.

Scary times to be a writer - to have any job. But this was always my dream and so I know deep down there's no chance I'll give up on it. Even if I can only build two thousand loyal readers, that is enough to make a living, and I'll do that through being very very human and marketing myself face first.
Jan 16, 2023 at 05:13 AM
Lola (Likely) (Moderate) says
Chat bots are getting crafty. Obviously they can’t replicate an original human’s true emotional journey, but for most things, such as instructional packets, robots may be preferred since they’re cheaper, less prone to mistakes, and won’t quit suddenly.
Jan 05, 2023 at 01:37 AM
Nil (Highly likely) says
Copy.ai website already writes blog posts in seconds. This field is already lost.
Dec 12, 2022 at 12:58 PM
Ariel says
Not really I believe authors are still out there writing for us.
Aug 08, 2023 at 01:01 AM
Eden (No chance) says
I wouldn't read a book written by AI. Replacing authors would promote illiteracy.
Oct 03, 2022 at 07:58 PM
Mark says
The problem is if in the future you will be able to tell the difference
Mar 29, 2023 at 08:46 AM
Someone who is passionate about storytelling (No chance) says
The thing about creative writing is that it requires, well, creativity. Humans are the only things on earth with the ability to think creatively. It's so impressive, that it can never be replicated. Storytelling is not a matter of algorithms or programs, it is generated by raw human emotion and thoughts. Some may gesture to the AI programs people are making that can auto-generate a story or script, but have you actually seen what those things make? Their stories are absolutely ridiculous, and are meant to be laughed at for how bad they are. If anything, these programs are further proof that no creative art-form, be it writing, painting, or the sort, can never truly be replaced by the machines. If I were you, I wouldn't worry about it, not for another billion years.
Apr 15, 2022 at 06:25 PM
PKN (Highly likely) says
I work with AI within the book industry. It's already incredibly advanced.
Feb 10, 2022 at 09:06 PM
Zen (No chance) says
Writing fiction needs creativity so robots won't replace human on this
Feb 04, 2022 at 10:54 AM
Sparsha (No chance) says
Writing takes a lot of skill that AI could never be programmed to do.
Nov 06, 2021 at 12:25 PM
Vuk Lazarevic (Low) says
There are various AI rephrasing and writing tools but these are not advanced enough to create non-plagiarized content.
Oct 01, 2021 at 11:00 AM

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