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US job code 27-3043Very high change by 2035

Writers and Authors

Machines can already do 56% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 83%. Most of the work is changing now.

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Share of the work machines can do

Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050

100%75%50%25%20262035205056%

Writers and Authors in 2026: the short answer

  • Today: machines can do 56% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 25% of them.
  • Forecast: machines can already do half of its tasks, and 83% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
  • Size: 47,940 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $76,910 a year.
  • Contact with people: it scores 40% for contact with people.
  • Also called: Advertising Copywriter, Advertising Writer, Author, Content Marketing Writer.
  • Competency here means how well the best AI model, tool or robot available can do a task, scored out of 100: today using the best available now, and for later years the 311 prediction of what AI and robots will be able to do.

Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.

Machines can do today
56%of the tasks, 2026
By 2035
83%of the tasks
US median pay
$76,910a year, May 2025
US jobs
48k47,940 people
Contact with people
40%how people-facing
Step 1AnticipateWhat is changing? Free to everyone

How the work changes, task by task

The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.

TaskShare of the dayMachines can do2026 to 2035
Write articles, bulletins, sales letters, speeches, and other related informative, marketing and promotional material13%
75% to 95%
Write fiction or nonfiction prose, such as short stories, novels, biographies, articles, descriptive or critical analyses, and essays8%
70% to 95%
Revise written material to meet personal standards and to satisfy needs of clients, publishers, directors, or producers8%
76% to 96%
Edit or rewrite existing written material as necessary, and submit written material for approval by supervisor, editor, or publisher8%
25% to 55%
Write advertising material for use by publication, broadcast, or internet media to promote the sale of goods and services8%
70% to 95%
Conduct research to obtain factual information and authentic detail, using sources such as newspaper accounts, diaries, and interviews7%
45% to 80%
Work with staff to develop script, story, or advertising concepts6%
30% to 60%
Plan project arrangements or outlines, and organize material accordingly4%
77% to 97%
Step 2AssessWhy should I care? Free to everyone

The skills this job runs on

The skills writers and authors use most, most used first.

Creative and innovative thinkingDesign and contentCommunicationAdaptability and resilienceLearning aptitude and mindsetCritical thinking and problem solvingEntrepreneurial mindsetLeadershipProfessionalism and work ethicInterpersonal skills

Human value: what makes people in this job hard to replace

How much writers and authors rely on each one, from 0 to 10. 311 estimates, medium confidence.

  • Go-to problem solver5/10
  • Trust and reliability4/10
  • Know-how about the organisation1/10
  • Network and relationships5/10
  • Mentoring and developing others3/10
  • Culture and morale4/10
  • Initiative beyond the role8/10
  • Calm in a crisis5/10
  • Bridge between teams1/10
  • Reputation and influence9/10

Safer jobs nearby

Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.

Step 3ActWhat do I do about it? Free plan and up
What do I do about it

What should you do about it?

Open this job in the Workforce Starburst to see it for your country, then use these to act on it.

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  • Pay trend

    Where pay for this job is heading.

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  • Team plan

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  • Shared workspace

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Questions

When will machines do half of the tasks of Writers and Authors?

Machines can already do half of its tasks. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.

Will AI take the job of writers and authors?

Machines can do 56% of the tasks of writers and authors today and 83% by 2035. Most of the routine work moves to machines, and the people in the job move to oversight, judgement and client work.

Sources and citing

Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 27-3043.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring, forecast and human value: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit (human value scores are 311 estimates, medium confidence); after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.

Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Writers and Authors: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/writers-and-authors/