True Crime Writer
Investigate and narrate real criminal cases through books, podcasts, and long-form journalism
About the profession
True Crime Writers research and write about real criminal cases, exploring the psychology of crime, the justice system, and the human impact of violence. They work in books, podcasts, documentaries, and long-form journalism. In 2026, true crime is one of the most popular content genres, with writers leveraging cold case databases, public records platforms, and DNA genealogy developments.
How to Get Started
Take a personality test to see if True Crime Writer fits your profile
Career Match Test →Explore the Career Path section to see progression from junior to senior
Jump to Career Path →Start learning — check the Learning Path for free courses
Jump to Learning Path →Personality Fit
Based on the True Crime Writer role, here are the RIASEC personality types that tend to thrive in this career. While these alignments are common, individual success depends on motivation, skill development, and finding the right work environment.
Artistic
Creative, expressive, original thinking
Social
Helping, teaching, working with people
Investigative
Research, analysis, problem-solving
Not sure if these types match you? Take the full RIASEC assessment (4 min) to discover your personality profile and see how it aligns with hundreds of careers.
Career Path
Your career progression roadmap with salary growth at each level
Career Ladder
True Crime Blogger/Freelancer → Published Writer → Bestselling Author
Where are you on this career path?
Click a level below to set your current position
Salary Growth
3
Levels
$300K
Top Salary
7+
Years
Learning Path
Skills you need to develop and courses to get there
🚀
Set your current level first
Go to the Career Path tab and select your current level to see your personalized learning plan.
Go to Career PathCareer levels
Timeline: 0-3 | Entry Level Annual: $10,000 - $35,000 Research criminal cases using public records and databases Write case analyses for blogs and publications Develop podcast…
Skills used in this career
Click any skill to see how to learn it and what salary boost it gives
Income Dynamics
Conservative and aggressive scenarios for 10–15 years
Year 1-3: Freelancer $10,000 - $35,000 Year 3-7: Published $40,000 - $90,000 Year 7+: Bestselling $80,000 - $300,000+
💰 Pay for Writers and Authors
BLS OEWS, May 2023The federal survey does not count this job title on its own — it is counted under Writers and Authors (27-3043).
Half of U.S. workers in this occupation earn more than this, half earn less.
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Related Reading
Related Holland / RIASEC Types