Every occupation the official NCES/BLS crosswalk connects to creative writing programs, with BLS pay, the education each job usually needs, what the work involves, and where to go next.
Creative Writing · CIP 23.1302 · 3 careers · Check one exact major, e.g. 23.1302 Creative Writing, in the major to career finder
The official NCES/BLS crosswalk maps creative writing programs to 3 occupations that such programs typically prepare people for, including Editor and Writer. BLS median pay across them runs from $76,910 (Writer) to $78,760 (English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary) in May 2025. The crosswalk describes preparation, not what graduates actually go on to do.
Data Program → related occupations: these are jobs creative writing programs typically prepare people for (NCES/BLS crosswalk). Not a guaranteed outcome, and not a record of what graduates do.
Data Filter by the education the job usually needs or its preparation level; sort by pay or by number employed.
| Occupation | Most common education | Job Zone | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Editor | $77,920 | 91,690 | n/a | 4 |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryPostsecondary teaching | $78,760 | 57,720 | Doctoral Degree | 5 |
| Writer | $76,910 | 47,940 | n/a | 4 |
No occupations match these filters.
Data The education column shows a typical entry level only where O*NET data supports one answer. Check the typical education for Editor, one of the creative writing jobs above.
Data BLS national median annual wage, May 2025. These are pay levels of the occupations, not earnings of graduates.
Data The largest related occupations by employment (postsecondary teaching shown in the explorer).
Verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard reference sources.
Write text, such as headlines, stories, articles, editorials, or newsletters.
Reading Comprehension · Writing · Active Listening
Mapped from CIP 23.1302Write fiction or nonfiction prose, such as short stories, novels, biographies, articles, descriptive or critical analyses, and essays.
Revise written material to meet personal standards and to satisfy needs of clients, publishers, directors, or producers.
Writing · Reading Comprehension · Time Management
Career guide Salary How to become
Mapped from CIP 23.1302Data Related occupations grouped by government career field, with their pay range.
Data Other programs whose crosswalk occupations overlap with these.
The NCES/BLS crosswalk relates instructional programs (CIP 2020) to occupations (SOC 2018) when programs in the CIP category typically prepare individuals directly for jobs in the occupation. This page uses the CIP program series below and shows every non-residual occupation mapped to them that has BLS wages and O*NET data; each occupation lists the CIP codes that map to it.
Searches this page answers include “what can you do with a creative writing degree”, “jobs for creative writing majors”, “creative writing degree jobs” (Ahrefs, U.S.).
