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Writers & Authors

Arts, Design, Entertainment & Mediavery highmixed
Projected change (est.): ~-5%
Median Wage (est.): ~$73,690
Employment (est.): ~143K

Overall Exposure

68+13

2025 vs 2023

Theoretical Exposure

90

What AI could do

Observed Exposure

58

What AI actually does

Automation Risk Score

60

Displacement risk

3-Year Outlook (2025 → 2028)

Projected changes in AI automation metrics over the next 3 years based on estimated data.

Overall Exposure

68→80
+12

2025 → 2028 (estimated)

Theoretical Exposure

90→94
+4

2025 → 2028 (estimated)

Observed Exposure

58→75
+17

2025 → 2028 (estimated)

Automation Risk

60→68
+8

2025 → 2028 (estimated)

Exposure Metrics (2023 - 2028)

Task Breakdown

Write articles/content
75%β 1
Edit and revise
65%β 1

About This Occupation

If you work as a Writers & Authors, AI is reshaping your profession. With an automation risk of 60/100 and overall exposure at 68%, this role faces high transformation. The highest-impact area is write articles/content at 75% automation. This is classified as an 'mixed' role. BLS projects -5% decline through 2034. Professionals who embrace AI tools will see their capabilities significantly amplified.

ISCO-08 classification

Unit group 2641ILO official

Authors and Related Writers

Indirect mapping — this occupation is linked to the ISCO unit group by a rule-based fallback.

Definition

ILO original text (English)

Authors and related writers plan, research and write books, scripts, storyboards, plays, essays, speeches, manuals, specifications and other non-journalistic articles (excluding material for newspapers, magazines and other periodicals) for publication or presentation.

Definition & vocabulary source

Source: International Labour Organization (ILO) — ISCO-08 Structure

License: ILO CC BY 4.0

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Official occupational information

  • ONET27-3042.00

    Technical Writers

    Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.

    View original
  • ONET27-3043.00

    Writers and Authors

    Originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material.

    View original

Source: O*NET 30.2, U.S. DOL/ETA

License: CC BY 4.0

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Frequently Asked Questions

With an automation risk score of 60%, Writers & Authors faces a significant risk of AI-driven displacement. Many core tasks in this role can be automated by current AI systems. However, full replacement is unlikely in the near term -- AI will more likely transform the role rather than eliminate it entirely.

Our estimated AI automation risk score for Writers & Authors is 60% for 2025. Estimated overall AI exposure is 68%, with 90% theoretical exposure and 58% observed exposure. The estimated risk trend from 2023 to 2025 is +10 points. All of these are model-generated estimates, not measurements.

The tasks with the highest automation potential for Writers & Authors are: Write articles/content (75%), Edit and revise (65%). These rates are our own estimates of how much of each task current AI systems can handle. They are not measurements and are not taken from any external dataset.

We estimate a -5% employment change for Writers & Authors between 2024 and 2034. This is our own estimate, not a figure published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Combined with an estimated overall AI exposure of 68%, this occupation faces both traditional labor market shifts and AI-driven transformation. Workers should monitor both employment trends and AI capability growth.

Since AI primarily augments capabilities in this role, professionals in Writers & Authors should embrace AI as a productivity multiplier. Focus on learning to use AI tools effectively, developing higher-order analytical and creative skills, and positioning yourself as someone who can leverage AI to deliver greater value.

Recent AI Impact Changes

Mar 2026: Research shows a 1:33 AI-to-labor substitution ratio in corporate spending, with content-heavy outsourcing most affected.

[Source: Stevens (2026) arXiv]

Mar 2026: Brookings study reveals AI-exposed freelance writers face earnings decline, but long-form journalism, specialist writing, and narrative nonfiction remain harder for AI to replicate convincingly.

[Source: Brookings Institution (Hui & Reshef, 2025)]

Mar 2026: Published evergreen blog post analyzing AI impact on writers and authors (68% exposure, 60% risk, mixed mode)

[Source: AI Changing Work Blog]