Entry-Level Writing Jobs: Where to Start (+ What They Pay)

My first writing job in Hollywood paid almost nothing and taught me almost everything — mostly what I didn’t want. Here’s what I wish someone had told me then: your first writing job matters less than your second, because the first one exists to generate proof. The goal is to pick an entry point that pays you something while building the portfolio that pays you properly.

The short version: realistic entry-level writing jobs pay $20–$40/hour (or $50–$150 per article freelance), and the best entry points are junior content roles, marketing teams that need writing help, and small scoped freelance projects. Unpaid “exposure” work is not an entry point — it’s a detour.

What Do Entry-Level Writing Jobs Pay?

• Junior staff roles (content coordinator, marketing assistant): roughly $40,000–$55,000, and they teach you the business side fast.

• Entry freelance work: $50–$150 per article or $20–$40/hour while you build testimonials.

• The rule: every gig must produce a portfolio piece, a testimonial, or a rate increase. Ideally two of the three.

Where to Find Entry-Level Writing Jobs

1. My job board, Make Writing Your Job. Okay, yes — I built it. But hear me out: it’s a Top 20 Business bestseller on Substack with 42,000+ subscribers, and my team hand-picks new roles five days a week, with rates from $30 to $300 an hour. No content mills. You can browse this week’s drops here, or subscribe below and they come to you.

Get this week’s hand-picked writing jobs free:

2. Adjacent job titles. Search “content coordinator,” “marketing assistant,” and “communications associate” — entry writing jobs usually hide under titles that don’t say “writer.”

3. Small businesses in your orbit. The yoga studio, the local agency, the startup your friend works at. Small companies hire people they can see, and a direct pitch beats a hundred applications.

The First-Year Strategy

Decide early which track you’re on: staff (stability, mentorship, benefits) or freelance (speed, ceiling, ownership). Both work. I chose freelance and tripled my income the year I went all-in, but I’d watched the machine from the inside first. If freelance is calling, start with my beginner’s guide to freelance writing jobs.

FAQ: Entry-Level Writing Jobs

Can You Get a Writing Job With No Degree?

Yes. I have a writing degree and no client or editor has ever asked about it. Portfolios outrank diplomas in every corner of this industry.

Are There Remote Entry-Level Writing Jobs?

Yes, and they’re heavily searched for good reason — junior content and marketing-writing roles are increasingly remote. Expect more competition, and compensate with a sharper niche.

What Entry-Level Writing Jobs Should You Avoid?

Content mills paying under $50 an article, anything unpaid-for-exposure, and roles with no editing or feedback loop. If nobody edits you, nobody is teaching you.

Keep Leveling Up

Browse this week’s curated writing jobs, read how to land a remote writing job, and get the long game in Write for Money and Power.