14 high-paying jobs for people who love writing

These are perfect jobs for writers.
PK.Inspiration_06/Shutterstock

If you've got the writing bug, you don't necessarily have to bank on being a starving writer for the rest of your career.

In fact, there are plenty of well-paid jobs in a range of fields that require excellent writing skills.

We checked out the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), a US Department of Labor database that compiles detailed information on hundreds of jobs, and looked at salary data on the US Bureau of Labor Statistics' website to find positions with a median annual salary of more than $55,000 that require writing skills.

O*NET ranks how important "the ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand" is in any job, assigning each a "writing importance level" between 1 and 100, where a higher score indicates more writing skills are required. It also breaks down each occupation's projected growth from 2014 to 2024.

Here are 14 well-paying positions with a writing-importance level of 81 or higher and a projected growth of at least 2%:

14. Historians

Getty Images / Thomas Lohnes

Writing importance level: 81

Median salary: $55,110

Projected growth from 2014 to 2024: 2% to 4%

Historians research, analyze, record, and interpret the past as recorded in sources.

13. Copy writers

Adam Berry/Stringer/Getty Images

Writing importance level: 81

Median salary: $61,240

Projected growth from 2014 to 2024: 2% to 4%

Copy writers write advertising copy for use by publication or broadcast media to promote sale of goods and services.

12. Instructional coordinators

Matt Cardy/Stringer/Getty Images

Writing importance level: 81

Median salary: $62,460

Projected growth from 2014 to 2024: 5% to 8%

Instructional coordinators develop instructional material, coordinate educational content, and incorporate current technology in specialized fields.

11. Archaeologists

roanokecollege/Flickr

Writing importance level: 81

Median salary: $63,190

Projected growth from 2014 to 2024: 2% to 4%

Archaeologists conduct research to reconstruct record of past human life and culture from human remains, artifacts, architectural features, and structures.

10. Postsecondary English language and literature teachers

Terry Ballard/Flickr

Writing importance level: 81

Median salary: $63,730

Projected growth from 2014 to 2024: 9% to 13%

Postsecondary English language and literature teachers teach courses in English language and literature, including linguistics and comparative literature.

9. Technical writers

Tech Hub/Flickr

Writing importance level: 81

Median salary: $69,850

Projected growth from 2014 to 2024: 9% to 13%

Technical writers write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions.

8. School psychologists

Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design/Flickr

Writing importance level: 81

Median salary: $73,270

Projected growth from 2014 to 2024: 14% or higher

School psychologists investigate processes of learning and teaching and develop psychological principles and techniques applicable to educational problems.

7. Industrial-organizational psychologists

Alessandro Valli/flickr

Writing importance level: 81

Median salary: $82,760

Projected growth from 2014 to 2024: 14% or higher

Industrial-organizational psychologists apply principles of psychology to human resources, administration, management, sales, and marketing problems.

6. Postsecondary education administrators

Andrew Wippler/Flickr

Writing importance level: 81

Median salary: $90,760

Projected growth from 2014 to 2024: 9% to 13%

Postsecondary education administrators plan, direct, or coordinate research, instructional, student administration and services, and other educational activities at postsecondary institutions.

5. Atmospheric and space scientists

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Flickr

Writing importance level: 81

Median salary: $92,460

Projected growth from 2014 to 2024: 9% to 13%

Atmospheric and space scientists investigate atmospheric phenomena and interpret meteorological data.

4. Public relations and fundraising managers

VFS Digital Design/flickr

Writing importance level: 81

Median salary: $107,320

Projected growth from 2014 to 2024: 5% to 8%

Public relations and fundraising managers plan, direct, or coordinate activities designed to create or maintain a favorable public image or raise issue awareness for their organization or client.

3. Urologists

US Army Africa/Flickr

Writing importance level: 81

Median salary: $206,920

Projected growth from 2014 to 2024: 14% or higher

Urologists diagnose, treat, and help prevent benign and malignant medical and surgical disorders of the genitourinary system and the renal glands.

2. Neuropsychologists and clinical neuropsychologists

Flickr/A of Doom

Writing importance level: 85

Median salary: $95,710

Projected growth from 2014 to 2024: 9% to 13%

Neuropsychologists and clinical neuropsychologists apply theories and principles of neuropsychology to diagnose and treat disorders of higher cerebral functioning.

1. Poets, lyricists, and creative writers

Flickr / Vancouver Film School

Writing importance level: 88

Median salary: $61,240

Projected growth from 2014 to 2024: 2% to 4%

Poets, lyricists, and creative writers create original written works, like poems, song lyrics, and prose.

Áine Cain

Senior Retail Reporter

Áine Cain is a senior reporter for Business Insider, covering Walmart, Target, Costco, Home Depot, Lowe's, and Ikea. She writes about the changing nature of the retail business, the labor issues affecting retail employees, and the trends that consumers should know about. Occasionally, she'll delve into crime, multi-level marketing schemes, and weird history. Cain previously wrote about careers and business strategy for Business Insider. Follow her on Twitter or LinkedIn. Got a tip? Email her at acain@businessinsider.com. Read some of her past work here: Lowe's workers say morale is reaching an all-time low as the home-improvement giant rolls out changes to stores Jeffrey Epstein was accused of sex trafficking young girls on his mysterious private island. Over 40 years ago, a different millionaire escaped justice in a stunningly similar case. Amazon warehouse employees speak out about the 'brutal' reality of working during the holidays, when 60-hour weeks are mandatory and ambulance calls are common Ikea was once touted as one of the best places to work. Now workers are fleeing over a policy they say has backfired spectacularly. LuLaRoe's founders have been linked to 31 LLCs set up during the last 3 years — and a lawsuit alleges they're attempting to shield assets like a Gulfstream jet, a ranch in Wyoming, and a world-record-breaking supercar named Ruthie

Loading Something is loading.

We are so sorry! We bumped into a system failure and couldn't take your email this time.

More: Features Salary High paying jobs Humanities

Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Deal icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt.

For you