revtothelimit - motorbike forum

My daughter has just graduated with a first in English and History (joint honours) from Southampton University, she is interested in a career in copy writing, the jobs she has seen advertised do not have salaries, they want the applicant to say what they're looking for (which is a bit crap of them), does anyone know what a starting salary would be for a copy writing job in a provincial town like Peterborough?

Isn't this like number 3 on the list of jobs about to be lost to AI?

BTW: I only thought of that because I was thinking this would be a good question for AI.

iirc, something like Glassdoor will give you typical salaries once you've signed up.

On a semi-related note.

I had a friend who was a copywriter for a big London agency, he's long gone now, I stole my best catchphrase from him.

He did the copy on a well known 80's jag advert, I don't think he ever actually set anything on fire tho'

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Sun Aug 17, 2025 6:51 pm Isn't this like number 3 on the list of jobs about to be lost to AI?

BTW: I only thought of that because I was thinking this would be a good question for AI.

I doubt it, everything I see written by AI reads like it needs rewriting.

If she wants a job, hope she knows it's copyright, not copy write

The copy which you write will often have copyright protection, which means other people don't have the right to copy the copy that you wrote

I imagine like many jobs with no salary advertised, they're looking to pay as little as possible.

I suspect for a first job, in an area which adjoins the creative / media sectors, the wages will not be high.

Yorick wrote: Sun Aug 17, 2025 8:07 pm If she wants a job, hope she knows it's copyright, not copy write

Or is it? Or even copywriter.

As MD so eloquently pointed out.

£24k (would be my guess).

Interestingly, regarding AI, the NCTJ says that journalists in jobs using AI get paid more than those that don't...typical figures £38k vs £34k. (No info on experience etc to get those figures or whether they're averages).

£24k is a couple of hundred quid more than minimum wage if you're doing a 'normal' 9-5. Probably less than minimum wage if you consider unpaid overtime on a salaried job.

I'd guess/hope it was more than that.

Count Steer wrote: Sun Aug 17, 2025 8:53 pm £24k (would be my guess).

Interestingly, regarding AI, the NCTJ says that journalists in jobs using AI get paid more than those that don't...typical figures £38k vs £34k. (No info on experience etc to get those figures or whether they're averages).

AI is coming, might as well embrace it. I've been using it extensively for 2 years since I went properly freelance and its made my life easier. The companies I work for are old school so dont bother with it but theyll pay my 24 hours a week because that is their estimate of the job, ill crank it out in 15 to 18 with AI, and get praised on exceeding their expectations.

Must admit that on opening the thread I was thinking it would be a job soon done by robots.

Well, AI anyway.

go_slow wrote: Sun Aug 17, 2025 9:08 pm

Count Steer wrote: Sun Aug 17, 2025 8:53 pm £24k (would be my guess).

Interestingly, regarding AI, the NCTJ says that journalists in jobs using AI get paid more than those that don't...typical figures £38k vs £34k. (No info on experience etc to get those figures or whether they're averages).

AI is coming, might as well embrace it. I've been using it extensively for 2 years since I went properly freelance and its made my life easier. The companies I work for are old school so dont bother with it but theyll pay my 24 hours a week because that is their estimate of the job, ill crank it out in 15 to 18 with AI, and get praised on exceeding their expectations.

Username change? Admittedly "Upto62.5%fasternow" isn't right catchy but its worth a bash.

Count Steer wrote: Sun Aug 17, 2025 8:53 pm £24k (would be my guess).

Interestingly, regarding AI, the NCTJ says that journalists in jobs using AI get paid more than those that don't...typical figures £38k vs £34k. (No info on experience etc to get those figures or whether they're averages).

Did that come from an LLM?

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Sun Aug 17, 2025 9:03 pm £24k is a couple of hundred quid more than minimum wage if you're doing a 'normal' 9-5. Probably less than minimum wage if you consider unpaid overtime on a salaried job.

I'd guess/hope it was more than that.

I'd hope so too but, effectively a trainee (despite the degree), copywriting isn't the best paid job on the planet unless you're at a top agency working on a top account and I'm not aware those jobs are in Peterboghorror.

TBH, my first thought on reading the OPs post was, with that degree I'd say her aim is a bit low but, a jobs a job I guess.

BTW - The NCTJ site is pretty good on prepping for interview in the journalism trade and a lot of what they say is probably applicable to other writing jobs.

Rockburner wrote: Sun Aug 17, 2025 9:22 pm

Count Steer wrote: Sun Aug 17, 2025 8:53 pm £24k (would be my guess).

Interestingly, regarding AI, the NCTJ says that journalists in jobs using AI get paid more than those that don't...typical figures £38k vs £34k. (No info on experience etc to get those figures or whether they're averages).

Did that come from an LLM?

The NCTJ generally have their finger on the pulse on their industry salaries so probably not. The reason I looked there was they used to publish a list of salary ranges across the trade and I thought there might be some similarities or they might cover other writing niches but they don't seem to publish it any more.

Edit: they do still have a list but it's not as comprehensive as I remember. It's on this page but it is, unsurprisingly, journalism focused across various media.

https://www.nctj.com/life-as-a-journalist/salary/

demographic wrote: Sun Aug 17, 2025 9:20 pm Username change? Admittedly "Upto62.5%fasternow" isn't right catchy but its worth a bash.

Nah, if anything im getting slower with age

How's you?

go_slow wrote: Sun Aug 17, 2025 9:57 pm

demographic wrote: Sun Aug 17, 2025 9:20 pm Username change? Admittedly "Upto62.5%fasternow" isn't right catchy but its worth a bash.

Nah, if anything im getting slower with age

How's you?

Not so bad, busy enough anyway.

I should probably add that, if invited to pitch a required salary, I'm not suggesting the applicant says '£24k please'.

The tactic by potential employers is based on the idea that good candidates will make low-ball bids if they really want/need a job. (Fine way of ending up with good quality, disgruntled employees, run job applications as some sort of reverse auction ). Depending on the company and the job, £24k is my guess at what they'll be hoping to get someone for*. I'd pitch higher.

* but not knowing which company it is, how many copywriters they employ, what the prospects are once on board etc etc.