You became a writer because you love the craft—not because you wanted to commute two hours a day to sit in an open office where you can't hear yourself think.
The good news? Writing went fully remote years ago, and it's not going back. Content teams are distributed. Async collaboration is the norm. And companies have realized that great writing doesn't require a desk in their headquarters.
At Remote Job Assistant, we analyze thousands of remote job postings monthly—and writing roles have exploded since 2020. But here's what most guides won't tell you: there are two distinct paths, and choosing the wrong one for your goals wastes months of effort.
This guide breaks down both paths—full-time employment and freelance gigs—with current salary data, companies actively hiring, and honest advice about which route fits your situation.
Remote writing jobs pay $45K-$170K+ for full-time roles, with technical and UX writers earning the most. Entry-level positions exist but require portfolio samples. Freelance rates range from $50-$800+ per blog post depending on experience. Companies like Zapier, Buffer, and Automattic hire fully remote writers. AI is changing the work but not eliminating it—AI-augmented writers are in higher demand.
Quick Guide: Remote Writing Career Paths
Before diving deep, here's a snapshot of your options:
| Path | Best For | Typical Pay | Stability | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time Employment | Steady income seekers, benefits-focused, career builders | $45K-$170K+ salary | High | Medium |
| Freelance/Gig Work | Side hustlers, variety seekers, schedule-first priorities | $25-$150+/hour | Variable | High |
| Hybrid Approach | Those testing the waters, building runway | Mix of both | Medium | High |
Most people start with employment, build skills, then layer in freelance work—or transition fully once they've built a client base. Neither path is "better." It depends on your risk tolerance, financial situation, and lifestyle goals.
Why Writing Went Remote (And Why It's Staying That Way)
Understanding why writing roles work remotely helps you position yourself better in applications.
Three structural shifts made remote writing permanent:
1. Async tools replaced real-time collaboration. Google Docs, Notion, and Slack let writers collaborate with editors across time zones. The "tap on the shoulder" culture of newsrooms evolved into threaded comments and scheduled reviews.
2. Content operations scaled globally. Companies now publish in multiple languages, target multiple regions, and operate 24/7. Distributed writing teams aren't a compromise—they're a competitive advantage.
3. Output became measurable. Unlike roles where "presence" signals productivity, writing output is concrete. Did the blog post get published? Did it rank? Did conversions improve? Remote writers prove their value through deliverables, not desk time.
This matters for your applications. Companies aren't doing you a favor by offering remote work—they've restructured around it. Frame yourself as someone who thrives in async environments, not someone who "can work remotely if needed."
Remote Writing Salaries by Role (2025-2026 Data)
Salary expectations vary dramatically by specialization. Here's what current data shows:
| Role | Entry-Level | Mid-Career | Senior Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Content Writer | $41,000-$57,000 | $57,000-$85,000 | $83,000-$105,000 |
| Copywriter | $48,000-$65,000 | $65,000-$90,000 | $102,000-$175,000 |
| Technical Writer | $55,000-$78,000 | $78,000-$102,000 | $107,000-$169,000 |
| UX Writer | $64,000-$85,000 | $85,000-$116,000 | $114,000-$205,000 |
| Content Strategist | $60,000-$80,000 | $80,000-$110,000 | $110,000-$150,000 |
Salary ranges based on Glassdoor and Built In data for remote positions, December 2025.
Notice how technical writers and UX writers earn significantly more than generalist content writers. Specialization pays—literally. Writers who develop expertise in specific industries (fintech, healthcare, SaaS) or formats (API documentation, product copy) command premium rates.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, writers and authors earned a median wage of $72,270 in May 2024, with the top 10% earning over $133,680. Technical writers earned even more—median $91,670.
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Full-Time Remote Writing Roles
Let's break down the major categories of remote writing jobs, what each involves, and who's hiring.
Content Writer
Content writers produce blog posts, articles, guides, and web content designed to attract and engage audiences. This is the most common entry point into remote writing careers.
What you'll actually do:
- Research topics and interview subject matter experts
- Write SEO-optimized blog posts (typically 1,000-2,500 words)
- Collaborate with editors on revisions
- Track content performance and iterate
Skills that matter: SEO fundamentals, research ability, adaptability to brand voice, meeting deadlines consistently.
Who's hiring: Nearly every company with a blog. SaaS companies, e-commerce brands, media publishers, and agencies all need content writers.
Copywriter
Copywriters focus on persuasion—writing that drives specific actions like purchases, signups, or clicks. The work is shorter but higher-stakes.
What you'll actually do:
- Write landing pages, email sequences, and ad copy
- A/B test headlines and calls-to-action
- Collaborate with designers and marketers on campaigns
- Analyze conversion data to improve messaging
Skills that matter: Understanding buyer psychology, concise writing, data interpretation, brand voice mastery.
Among RJA users with writing backgrounds, copywriters report 25-35% higher interview rates than generalist content writers—largely because the ROI of good copy is easier to demonstrate.
Technical Writer
Technical writers translate complex information into clear documentation. This is one of the highest-paying writing specializations and extremely remote-friendly.
What you'll actually do:
- Create user guides, API documentation, and help center articles
- Work closely with engineers and product managers
- Maintain documentation systems and style guides
- Test products to ensure documentation accuracy
Skills that matter: Ability to learn technical concepts quickly, structured thinking, experience with documentation tools (Markdown, Git, Confluence).
You don't need an engineering degree. Many successful technical writers come from journalism, teaching, or general content backgrounds. What matters is your ability to learn quickly and explain clearly. Start by contributing to open-source documentation or writing tutorials for tools you use.
UX Writer
UX writers craft the words users see inside products—button labels, error messages, onboarding flows, tooltips. It's the intersection of writing and product design.
What you'll actually do:
- Write microcopy for apps and websites
- Collaborate with designers and researchers
- Conduct user testing on copy variations
- Develop voice and tone guidelines
Skills that matter: Extreme concision, user empathy, design thinking, comfort with ambiguity and iteration.
UX writing is the fastest-growing writing specialization, with demand driven by tech companies obsessing over user experience. Senior UX writers at major tech companies regularly earn $150,000-$200,000+.
Companies Actively Hiring Remote Writers
These companies have established track records of hiring writers for fully remote positions:
Remote-First Tech Companies
Zapier — 100% remote since 2011. Known for strong content marketing and excellent remote culture. Regularly hires content marketers and technical writers.
Buffer — Remote-first social media company. Their transparent culture extends to how they hire—check their Open blog for insights.
Automattic — The company behind WordPress.com, employs 2,000+ people across 90+ countries. Hires writers across content, support, and documentation roles.
Doist — Makers of Todoist and Twist. Async-first since 2010, with a strong emphasis on written communication skills.
GitLab — Fully remote company with extensive public documentation. Technical writers and content marketers.
SaaS Companies With Remote Writing Teams
- HubSpot — Major content marketing operation, hires across blog, social, and product content
- Shopify — E-commerce giant with distributed teams globally
- Mailchimp — Email marketing platform known for distinctive brand voice
- Notion — Documentation and productivity tool, hires technical writers and content marketers
- Webflow — Website builder with strong educational content focus
Content Agencies (Fully Remote)
- Contently — Premium content agency, hires experienced writers
- Skyword — Enterprise content marketing platform
- ClearVoice — Content creation platform connecting writers with brands
- Verblio — Content marketplace for blog posts and articles
Job boards sometimes show outdated listings. Before investing time in an application, verify the role is still open by checking the company's careers page directly. Most of the companies listed above post openings on their own sites before external job boards.
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Entry-Level Remote Writing Jobs
Breaking into remote writing without experience requires strategy. In reviewing thousands of writing applications through RJA, we consistently see the same pattern: candidates who target the right entry points get interviews, while those who aim too high get silence. Here's where to focus:
Junior Content Writer
Many companies hire junior content writers with minimal experience if you can demonstrate writing ability through samples.
What to expect: $38,000-$50,000 to start, with rapid growth potential if you perform well. You'll likely write shorter pieces initially and work closely with editors.
How to land one: Build 3-5 strong writing samples (even self-published), learn basic SEO, and apply to companies in industries you understand.
Editorial Assistant
Editorial assistants support content teams with research, fact-checking, light editing, and content coordination. It's a foot-in-the-door role that leads to writing positions.
What to expect: $35,000-$45,000. Less writing, more supporting—but you'll learn how content operations work.
Content Marketing Coordinator
This hybrid role combines writing with content distribution—social media, email, basic analytics. Good for people who want variety.
What to expect: $40,000-$52,000. You'll write, but also manage content calendars and track performance.
Freelance-to-Full-Time Path
Some writers land full-time roles by starting as freelance contributors. Companies often convert strong freelancers into employees when headcount opens up.
We've seen writers transition from freelance contributor to full-time staff writer within 6-12 months when they consistently deliver quality work and demonstrate reliability.
How to Position Your Resume for Remote Writing Jobs
Your resume needs to prove two things: you can write, and you can work remotely.
| Generic Resume | Optimized Resume |
|---|---|
| "Wrote blog posts for company website" | "Produced 40+ SEO blog posts driving 150K monthly organic visits" |
| "Content writer with 3 years experience" | "B2B SaaS content writer specializing in product-led growth messaging" |
| "Strong written communication skills" | "Managed async collaboration across 3 time zones using Notion and Slack" |
| "Self-motivated worker" | "Delivered 98% of assignments ahead of deadline in fully remote role" |
Remote-Specific Signals to Include:
- Previous remote experience — Even if informal, mention it
- Async tool proficiency — Notion, Slack, Google Docs, Asana, Trello
- Time zone flexibility — If applicable, mention willingness to overlap hours
- Home office setup — "Dedicated home office with reliable high-speed internet"
- Self-direction examples — Projects you completed without constant supervision
Decode Any Job Posting
Paste a job description and get instant insights: what they really want, red flags to watch, and how to stand out.
Prefer Freelance? Here's How That Path Works
Full-time employment isn't for everyone. Freelance writing offers flexibility, variety, and potentially higher hourly rates—but with different tradeoffs.
The Honest Pros and Cons
Advantages of freelance:
- Set your own schedule and rates
- Work with multiple clients across industries
- No office politics or mandatory meetings
- Income potential uncapped (top freelancers earn $150K+)
Disadvantages of freelance:
- No benefits (health insurance, 401k, PTO)
- Income variability—feast or famine cycles
- Self-employment taxes (roughly 15% additional)
- Constant client acquisition and admin work
Freelance Writing Rates (2025)
What can you actually charge? Rates vary widely based on experience, niche, and client type:
| Content Type | Beginner | Established | Expert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blog posts (1,000 words) | $50-150 | $150-400 | $400-800+ |
| White papers | $500-1,000 | $1,000-3,000 | $3,000-7,000 |
| Website copy (per page) | $100-300 | $300-800 | $800-2,000 |
| Email sequences (5-7 emails) | $250-500 | $500-1,500 | $1,500-3,500 |
| Case studies | $300-600 | $600-1,500 | $1,500-3,000 |
Rates based on Upwork marketplace data, Contently rate surveys, and Editorial Freelancers Association guidelines, December 2025.
Per-word rates typically range from $0.10-0.25 for beginners, $0.25-0.50 for established writers, and $0.50-$1.50+ for experts in specialized niches.
Best Platforms for Freelance Writers
Upwork — Largest freelance marketplace. Good for building initial portfolio and reviews. Competition is high, but so is opportunity volume. Best for writers just starting out who need to build a track record.
Contently — Higher-end platform that vets writers. Requires portfolio approval but connects you with enterprise clients and better rates.
ClearVoice — Mid-tier platform with decent rates and consistent work for qualified writers.
LinkedIn ProFinder — Underrated for B2B writers. Decision-makers post projects directly.
Direct outreach — The highest-paying freelance work comes from direct relationships, not platforms. Once you have samples and testimonials, cold emailing potential clients often yields better results than competing on marketplaces.
Platforms take 10-20% of your earnings but provide client flow. Direct clients pay full rate but require you to handle sales, contracts, and invoicing. Most successful freelancers use platforms to fill gaps while building direct relationships for primary income.
What Writers Worry About (And What's Actually True)
"Will AI replace writers?"
Not entirely, but AI is fundamentally changing the work. Here's what's actually happening in 2025-2026:
What hiring managers now expect:
- You use AI tools as part of your workflow—not as a crutch, but as a force multiplier
- You can produce more content without sacrificing quality
- You know when AI helps and when it creates problems
- You can edit and improve AI-generated drafts, not just accept them
AI-augmented workflows that companies want to see:
- Using ChatGPT or Claude for research synthesis and outline generation
- Running drafts through AI for consistency checks and gap identification
- Generating multiple headline/hook variations to test
- Fact-checking and source verification (AI as research assistant)
- Repurposing content across formats (blog → social → email)
What AI still can't do well:
- Original reporting and interviews
- Genuine brand voice that sounds human
- Strategic content decisions (what to write, when, for whom)
- Quality judgment and editorial taste
- Understanding nuanced audience needs
When asked "How do you use AI tools?", don't say "I don't use them" (sounds outdated) or "I use them for everything" (sounds like you can be replaced). Instead: "I use AI for research and first-draft acceleration, then add original insights, voice, and strategic thinking. My output quality has increased while my turnaround time has decreased."
Writers who position themselves as "AI-augmented" rather than "AI-resistant" are seeing increased demand. The skill isn't avoiding AI—it's knowing when and how to use it while delivering work AI alone can't produce.
"Do I need a journalism or English degree?"
No. While degrees help for certain roles (especially at traditional media companies), most employers care about your portfolio and demonstrated ability. We've seen successful remote writers with backgrounds in teaching, marketing, customer service, and completely unrelated fields.
What matters: Can you write clearly? Can you meet deadlines? Can you learn new subjects quickly?
"Can I transition from [other field] to writing?"
Yes—and your background is often an advantage. Writers with domain expertise (former nurses writing healthcare content, ex-engineers writing technical documentation, teachers writing educational materials) command premium rates because they combine writing skill with subject knowledge.
Your "non-writing" experience isn't a gap to explain—it's expertise to leverage.
"How long does it take to land a remote writing job?"
Entry-level content roles typically take 4-8 weeks from first application to offer. More specialized roles (technical writer, UX writer) may take 6-12 weeks due to portfolio reviews and skills assessments.
Freelance can be faster—some writers land their first paying client within 2-3 weeks of focused outreach—but building sustainable income takes 3-6 months.
Your 8-Week Action Plan
Whether you're targeting employment or freelance, here's a realistic timeline:
Weeks 1-2: Foundation
- Audit your existing writing samples (or create 3-5 new ones)
- Choose a specialization direction based on your background and interests
- Set up a simple portfolio (even a Google Doc works initially)
Weeks 3-4: Skill Building
- Learn SEO basics if targeting content roles
- Study documentation tools if targeting technical writing
- Read job descriptions to identify common requirements you're missing
Weeks 5-6: Application/Outreach Phase
- Apply to 10-15 relevant positions per week (employment path)
- Or pitch 10-15 potential clients per week (freelance path)
- Track responses and refine approach based on feedback
Weeks 7-8: Interview/Conversion
- Prepare for writing tests (most writing roles include them)
- Follow up on applications and pitches
- Negotiate offers or project rates
Most people who follow this plan consistently land their first remote writing opportunity within 8 weeks.
What Most Remote Writing Guides Get Wrong
We've reviewed hundreds of "how to become a remote writer" articles. Most paint an unrealistic picture that sets people up for frustration. Here's the truth:
They overestimate entry-level pay. Those "$60K starting salary" claims? Usually for writers with 2-3 years of experience or specialized skills. True entry-level content writing starts closer to $38,000-$45,000. Plan accordingly.
They underestimate the editing process. Your first draft won't ship. Expect 2-4 revision rounds on most pieces, sometimes more. Writers who bristle at feedback don't last. The best writers treat editing as collaboration, not criticism.
They ignore rejection volume. Landing a remote writing job typically requires 50-100+ applications for entry-level roles. We've watched talented writers give up after 20 rejections, thinking something was wrong with them. Nothing was wrong—that's just the math.
They pretend portfolios don't matter. "Just apply and show enthusiasm!" No. Hiring managers spend 30 seconds on your application. Without writing samples that prove you can do the job, you won't make the shortlist. Period.
They skip the AI conversation. Any guide that doesn't address how AI is changing writing jobs is already outdated. You need a clear answer for how you work with AI tools—interviewers will ask.
This guide exists because we got tired of seeing writers stall for months by following bad advice. The path is absolutely achievable—but only with accurate expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the average salary for remote writing jobs?
Remote content writers typically earn $45,000-$85,000 depending on experience and specialization. Technical writers and UX writers earn more—$78,000-$170,000+. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the median wage for writers and authors was $72,270 in May 2024.
Can I get a remote writing job with no experience?
Yes, but you need writing samples. Create spec pieces, start a blog, contribute to publications, or offer discounted work to build a portfolio. Entry-level content writer and editorial assistant roles specifically hire candidates with limited professional experience.
Freelance vs full-time: which pays more?
It depends on your skill level and hustle. Entry-level employees typically out-earn entry-level freelancers due to benefits and stability. But experienced freelancers with strong client bases can earn $100,000-$200,000+ by setting premium rates and avoiding the salary caps of employment.
Do remote writers need to be in a specific timezone?
Some roles require overlap with US or European business hours (typically 4-6 hours). Others are fully async with no timezone requirements. Job postings usually specify—look for "async" or "flexible hours" language for maximum flexibility.
What tools do remote writers need?
Essentials: reliable laptop, fast internet, Google Docs or Microsoft Word, and communication tools (Slack, Zoom). Helpful additions: Grammarly or similar editing software, project management familiarity (Asana, Notion, Trello), and SEO tools if doing content marketing work.
Is technical writing hard to break into without a technical background?
It's achievable but requires effort. Start by documenting tools you use, contribute to open-source projects, or create tutorials. Companies value clear communication over engineering credentials. Many successful technical writers came from teaching, journalism, or general content backgrounds.
How do I build a portfolio with no published clips?
Create spec pieces—write blog posts for imaginary companies, draft documentation for products you use, or start a Medium/Substack. Quality matters more than where it's published. Three excellent self-published pieces beat ten mediocre published ones.
Start Your Search
Remote writing careers offer something rare: work that's intellectually engaging, location-independent, and well-compensated. Whether you pursue full-time employment or freelance flexibility, the demand for skilled writers continues to grow.
The writers who succeed aren't necessarily the most talented—they're the ones who specialize strategically, position themselves clearly, and apply consistently.
Explore remote copywriter positions if persuasive writing appeals to you, check out technical writing opportunities for the highest-paying path, or browse flexible schedule remote jobs if work-life balance is your priority.
Your remote writing career starts with one application, one pitch, one sample. Make it today.
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