Greeting Card Designers and Writers

Salaries vary widely among freelance greeting card writers and designers. Some card designers and writers sell only a few ideas a year. Others make a great deal of money, working exclusively with a company, or by manufacturing and distributing their own lines of cards and products. Card companies typically pay freelancers fees for each idea they buy. Some manufacturers may offer a royalty payment plan, including an initial advance. According to the Greeting Card Association, freelance writers "can expect to receive anywhere between $25 and $150 for a submission that's accepted. Humor or 'punchline' writing tends to command a higher price than verse." The association says that freelance greeting card artists receive a flat fee that generally ranges between $275 and $500 and a typical royalty fee of 4 to 6 percent.

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that graphic designers employed in specialized design services earned a mean annual salary of $62,330 in May 2023, but pay for all graphic designers ranged from less than $36,420 to more than $100,450. Writers of all types earned a median salary of $73,690. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $40,900, while the highest paid writers earned more than $148,240 a year. Writers who were classified under the category of "independent artists, writers, and performers" earned mean annual salaries of $108,620.

Greeting card designers and writers who work for a company usually receive benefits such as vacation days, sick leave, health and life insurance, and a savings and pension program. Self-employed designers and editors must provide their own benefits.