How Much Do Content Creators Make? [Average Salary in 2022]

The creator economy is bustling — so much so, a LinkedIn report found job postings for creators have nearly tripled since 2021.

While the demand is there, one important question remains: is the salary keeping pace?

Here, we'll cover the average salary of content creators, what influences the number, and strategies to increase your salary.

Table of Contents

Content Creator Salary in 2022

What influences the salary of content creators?

How to Increase Your Salary as a Content Creator

Finding a Job as a Content Creator

Content Creator Salary in 2022

The average salary for content creators in 2022 is $44,192 per year. That works out to be just over $22 an hour, or $3,680 per month.

The salary range is $36,000 to $58,500, with top earners generating up to $74,500 annually across the United States.

For comparison, here's a roundup of similar jobs and their average annual salary:

Now let's explore the different factors that influence the salary of creators in this field.

What influences the salary of content creators?

The term "content creator" is an umbrella term that includes everything from blog writing to videography. Because of this discrepancy, the salary for one role may be vastly different from another, even though the job titles are similar.

Let's explore some additional factors that influence salary:

Location.

Not surprisingly, location can impact your base salary. For instance, while the national average salary for a content creator is $44,192 per year, this number jumps to $58,186 in New York City.

In fact, California, New York, and Massachusetts pay above the national average for this role. Take a look at the highest paying cities in the US for content creators:

Years of experience.

Experience also plays a large part in how much you can earn. Ultimately, your level of experience indicates to employers whether you're capable of doing the job. The more years you have working as a content creator, the more you can expect to earn.

For example, the average salary of a junior video editor is $48,962 per year. On average, a senior video editor will make almost $20,000 more per year.

In-demand skills.

Content creators who posses certain skills are in great position to earn more than their counterparts. For example, a multilingual copywriter — or a marketing manager who specializes in automation— may earn more for these additional skills.

How to Increase Your Salary as a Content Creator

Here are a few strategies to land on the higher end of the salary range as a content creator:

1. Find your expertise.

While content creation is a multi-faceted job, it can be helpful to specialize in a certain area, such as web analytics, social media, search engine optimization, or content creation. This is especially crucial for freelance content creators who want to set themselves apart from the crowd.

2. Grow your skillset.

The field of content creation is always changing. For example, if you're an SEO writer, you should always stay ahead of new algorithm updates and changes.

Set aside time to learn new skills, complete certifications, and read about new techniques and trends. In doing so, you can remain competitive and advocate for yourself.

Besides beefing up your technical skills, you can also benefit from developing your soft skills. After all, besides doing the technical scope of work, you’re also responsible for everything that goes into the business aspect, such as looking for clients, negotiating deals, or deciding your rates.

3. Create your own brand.

Branding isn't just for businesses. Maintaining an online portfolio, blog, podcast, or social media account is an effective way to showcase your expertise, share your work, build authority, and network with new clients. Simply updating your LinkedIn profile and posting updates can boost awareness around your work.

Finding a Job as a Content Creator

Most content creators pursue one of the following career paths: freelance, in-house, or agency. If you want to find a job as a content creator, you may be wondering which avenue you should take.

Let's take a closer look at these options:

Freelance — this is a solid path for creators who value flexibility. Freelancers set their own rates and have the freedom to work on multiple projects without committing to one employer — although you may have reoccurring clients. The downside? Freelancing is unpredictable, and work is never a guarantee. In-house — this involves working for anything from a scrappy start-up to a large corporation. Perhaps the biggest perk is income stability. You also have more opportunities to collaborate with team members. That said, the work may lack variety which may get monotonous. Agency — at an agency, you work with a team of experts to complete projects. Agency life is fast-paced, so expect to encounter a variety of industries and grow your portfolio at record speed. Like working in-house, you can expect consistent pay and work. However, with projects constantly crossing your desk, it's easy to burnout in this environment.

As a content creator, you have the luxury of working in different environments. If you're looking for the best fit, start by assessing your lifestyle, compensation requirements, work preferences, skill level, and comfortability working solo versus on a team.

Back To You

Content creation is an exciting area, but it's important to be fairly compensated. Remember to stay consistent with your quality of work, and never forget the value you bring to the table.

Originally published Sep 13, 2022 7:00:00 AM, updated September 13 2022