Profile of Professional Resume Writers: The “Average” Resume Writer (Circa 2025)

Who are resume writers? 

For the past 20+ years, I’ve been surveying my professional resume writer colleagues to paint a portrait of the industry. This infographic gives a snapshot of the “average” resume writer:

She (most respondents identify as female), has been writing résumés for over 15 years, primarily as a self-employed, full-time professional. She holds certifications in résumé writing and/or career coaching and is a member of professional associations, such as Career Thought Leaders (CTL), the National Résumé Writers’ Association (NRWA), Career Directors International (CDI), BeAResumeWriter.com, and/or the Professional Association of Résumé Writers and Career Coaches (PARWCC). 
 
Her primary client sources are referrals from past clients, LinkedIn, and her website, reflecting her established reputation. (Newer writers may rely more on organic web searches, networking, and social media to build their client base.) She spends approximately 16 hours per week on résumé development, including consultations, research, and writing. She completes 1-3 résumés weekly, with each project taking 5-10 hours. She works 30-40 hours per week total, including administrative tasks, marketing, and networking.
 
Her standard package includes a résumé, cover letter, and often LinkedIn profile development, with an average sale price of $951. She typically speaks with prospects before closing sales and collects full payment upfront. She gathers client information using a combination of questionnaires and phone or virtual interviews.
 
Her challenges include inconsistent revenue, dealing with administrative tasks alone, client management, and the writing process itself. Emerging concerns involve adapting to artificial intelligence (AI) and competing with low-cost résumé mills. Mentally, she grapples with isolation, burnout, and occasional imposter syndrome, seeking stronger connections with peers to mitigate those feelings.

The Résumé Writers’ Digest Industry Survey is an opportunity for résumé writers to benchmark their progress compared to their peers. The survey was first conducted in 2001, and because it hasn’t been faithfully conducted each year, the word “annual” has been removed from the name of the survey. Also, due to the small sample size and voluntary participation, this is not a scientific survey. However, the results can be informative, giving you a peek into how other résumé writers work and offering ideas for increasing your income.

 

The 2025 Résumé Writers’ Digest Industry Survey was conducted in April 2025, asking respondents to look back at 2024. The results were compiled in July 2025. Sixty-five résumé writers took the anonymous survey, answering 28 questions. 

Navigating a Post-DOGE Job Search: A Guide for Federal Workers and Contractors

New Guide for Federal Workers and Contractors Helps Navigate a Post-DOGE Job Search 

Two veteran career industry professionals have teamed up to create a “get started” guide for more than 1 million employees who are impacted by the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) plan to eliminate federal jobs and contracts. The stated goal of DOGE is to reach $1 trillion in savings by the start of the 2025-26 fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1.

 

The 40-page guide, “Solutions for Starting Your Federal Career Transition,” is designed for federal workers who have already been laid off or terminated, or who may be separated from their employment in the near future. It also is a resource for employees of companies with federal contracts who are affected by contract cancellations. 

 

The federal government is the nation’s largest employer. As of November 2024, there were an estimated 3 million federal employees (including US Postal Service employees) across the United States, excluding military personnel. In addition, there are more than 3.5 million federal contractors who aren’t counted as federal employees, but whose employment is affected by government contracts. Over the past week, multiple government agencies have cut 121 contracts worth $350 million, according to DOGE.

 

Tens of thousands of jobs have already been eliminated across numerous federal agencies. Most government workers (92%) are considered white collar workers. The website Layoffs.fyi estimates more than 113,000 federal employees have been fired or voluntarily resigned (on the condition they would be paid through the end of September). Mass layoffs were announced Tuesday at the Department of Health and Human Services, with 10,000 employees expected to be let go.

 

The federal government layoffs are expected to be the biggest from a single employer in history. IBM previously had that title, laying off 60,000 workers in 1993.

 

The guide is designed to cover the basics of getting started with a post-federal employment job search, including accessing federal employment-specific transition services, translating ‘fed speak’ into corporate language for a private-sector resume, and providing details about common job search scams to help federal jobseekers avoid being scammed. 

 

About the Authors:

Nancy H. Segal is the owner of Solutions for the Workforce. She started the business following her 30-year career in human resources with the federal government. She has extensive experience as a resume writer and career coach, with emphasis on federal jobs. Her certifications include Master Career Director (MCD), Certified Master Resume Writer (CMRW), Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), Certified Federal Resume Writer (CFRW) and Job and Career Transition Coach (JCTC). 

 

Ellen Steverson opened StartingBlock Career Services, LLC in 2011. She is a Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW), Nationally Certified Online Profile Expert (NCOPE), Certified Employment Interview Consultant (CEIC), and Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF). She has written more than 1,000 resumes and coached hundreds of people on job search and interview preparation.

 

The guide is $7.49 and can be ordered here:

https://sftwshop.com/products/solutions-for-starting-your-federal-career-transition

The AI-Savvy Job Seeker

Happy Publication Day to Michelle Dumas!

Her new book, “The AI-Savvy Job Seeker: Transform Your LinkedIn Profile and Outshine the Competition” is available today as a Kindle book ($7.99) and paperback ($15.99) — and here’s why you should check it out!

I had a chance to read a pre-publication version of the book (and provide a blurb for the foreword!) and here’s what you’ll get in the jam-packed-but-easy-to-read 313-page guide:

• A holistic approach to improving a client’s LinkedIn profile using AI prompts
• The EXACT prompts to plug into your AI tool to help you or your client improve their LinkedIn profile
• Prompts to help you — or your client — create an effective networking strategy
• Practical advice for how to use LinkedIn effectively in a job search

Here’s what I had to say about it for the foreword:

I’ll be recommending “The AI-Savvy Job Seeker” to all my clients and career industry colleagues. While there has been a lot of talk about how artificial intelligence can help in the job search, this book provides clear, actionable insights. With accessible strategies for everyone from recent college graduates to seasoned executives, the book combines detailed explanations about the WHY of the strategy with the WHAT of how to implement the idea, including specific AI prompts. The blueprints to create an effective “About” section are pure gold for populating this key LinkedIn section. This book is an essential resource for anyone looking to leverage AI in their job search.

If you purchase the Kindle, you'll get instant access. I had pre-ordered it and am reading it again today! I’ve already put some of the tactics into action with one of my clients! 

Check it out.

Michelle is also the creator of Distinctive Resume Templates. 

Links in this post are affiliate links, meaning I may receive an affiliate commission if you take action based on my recommendation. Don’t worry, though, I *only* recommend resources that I either personally use or would unequivocally recommend.

A Resume Writer By Any Other Name…

 

Looking for alternate job titles for “Resume Writer” for your LinkedIn profile?

Here are some suggestions:

• Career Consultant
• Career Development Specialist
• Career Development Coach
• Career Strategy Consultant
• Career Storyteller
• Career Growth Strategist
• Job Success Specialist
• LinkedIn Profile Expert
• Job Market Advisor
• Senior Resume Writer
• Career Services Consultant
• Resume Optimization Specialist
• Executive Resume Specialist
• Career Coaching Expert
• Job Search Coach
• Job Search Consultant
• Job Search Strategist
• Interview Preparation Advisor
• Interview Coach
• Job Market Specialist
• Job Search Advisor
• Job Application Specialist
• Personal Branding Expert
• Professional Bio Creator
• Client-Focused Consultant
• Professional Resume Writer
• Resume Project Manager
• Career Transition Specialist