Writers and Authors salary by location
National median: $76,910 (2025 OEWS). Percentages below describe each area's published median against that national figure.
| Location | Type | Median | vs national | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DC | state | $129,300 | +68.1% | 1,050 | 2025 |
| Waterbury, CT | metropolitan | $127,350 | +65.6% | 50 | 2025 |
| San Jose, CA | metropolitan | $118,810 | +54.5% | 400 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | metropolitan | $108,460 | +41.0% | 2,060 | 2025 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | metropolitan | $107,700 | +40.0% | 50 | 2025 |
| MD | state | $104,330 | +35.7% | 540 | 2025 |
| Bridgeport, CT | metropolitan | $103,060 | +34.0% | 150 | 2025 |
| Fort Collins, CO | metropolitan | $102,570 | +33.4% | — | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | metropolitan | $98,730 | +28.4% | 520 | 2025 |
| CT | state | $98,460 | +28.0% | 480 | 2025 |
| Hartford, CT | metropolitan | $97,160 | +26.3% | 140 | 2025 |
| VT | state | $94,430 | +22.8% | 110 | 2025 |
| New Haven, CT | metropolitan | $94,410 | +22.8% | 60 | 2025 |
| Trenton, NJ | metropolitan | $90,060 | +17.1% | 110 | 2025 |
| LA | state | $89,520 | +16.4% | 480 | 2025 |
| Portland, OR | metropolitan | $87,560 | +13.8% | 600 | 2025 |
| Baltimore, MD | metropolitan | $87,020 | +13.1% | 240 | 2025 |
| CA | state | $86,480 | +12.4% | 8,390 | 2025 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | metropolitan | $86,340 | +12.3% | 30 | 2025 |
| WA | state | $85,700 | +11.4% | 770 | 2025 |
| MA | state | $85,260 | +10.9% | 1,350 | 2025 |
| Boston, MA | metropolitan | $85,260 | +10.9% | 1,130 | 2025 |
| Burlington, VT | metropolitan | $85,020 | +10.5% | 40 | 2025 |
| VA | state | $85,000 | +10.5% | 1,530 | 2025 |
| Norwich, CT | metropolitan | $84,940 | +10.4% | 40 | 2025 |
| Durham, NC | metropolitan | $84,130 | +9.4% | 130 | 2025 |
| Philadelphia, PA | metropolitan | $84,130 | +9.4% | 560 | 2025 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | metropolitan | $83,770 | +8.9% | 130 | 2025 |
| Boulder, CO | metropolitan | $83,540 | +8.6% | 130 | 2025 |
| Oxnard, CA | metropolitan | $82,920 | +7.8% | 70 | 2025 |
| Sacramento, CA | metropolitan | $82,690 | +7.5% | 240 | 2025 |
| San Diego, CA | metropolitan | $82,590 | +7.4% | 350 | 2025 |
| Greeley, CO | metropolitan | $82,060 | +6.7% | 40 | 2025 |
| Atlanta, GA | metropolitan | $81,990 | +6.6% | 490 | 2025 |
| NJ | state | $81,590 | +6.1% | 1,180 | 2025 |
| OR | state | $80,540 | +4.7% | 950 | 2025 |
| Worcester, MA | metropolitan | $80,490 | +4.7% | 80 | 2025 |
| New Orleans, LA | metropolitan | $79,020 | +2.7% | 120 | 2025 |
| Riverside, CA | metropolitan | $78,990 | +2.7% | 190 | 2025 |
| Albany, NY | metropolitan | $78,050 | +1.5% | 90 | 2025 |
| Charleston, SC | metropolitan | $78,000 | +1.4% | 130 | 2025 |
| Harrisburg, PA | metropolitan | $77,740 | +1.1% | 50 | 2025 |
| PA | state | $77,410 | +0.7% | 1,080 | 2025 |
| Los Angeles, CA | metropolitan | $77,250 | +0.4% | — | 2025 |
| Fresno, CA | metropolitan | $77,060 | +0.2% | 70 | 2025 |
| Charlottesville, VA | metropolitan | $76,990 | +0.1% | 70 | 2025 |
| CO | state | $76,830 | −0.1% | 1,300 | 2025 |
| Montgomery, AL | metropolitan | $76,710 | −0.3% | 30 | 2025 |
| Columbus, OH | metropolitan | $76,490 | −0.5% | 240 | 2025 |
| Minneapolis, MN | metropolitan | $76,470 | −0.6% | 570 | 2025 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | metropolitan | $76,390 | −0.7% | 210 | 2025 |
| Houston, TX | metropolitan | $76,120 | −1.0% | 400 | 2025 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | metropolitan | $76,000 | −1.2% | 90 | 2025 |
| Chicago, IL | metropolitan | $75,940 | −1.3% | 2,120 | 2025 |
| IN | state | $75,820 | −1.4% | 450 | 2025 |
| Detroit, MI | metropolitan | $75,760 | −1.5% | 510 | 2025 |
| Austin, TX | metropolitan | $75,380 | −2.0% | 420 | 2025 |
| Santa Maria, CA | metropolitan | $74,820 | −2.7% | 40 | 2025 |
| GA | state | $74,710 | −2.9% | 820 | 2025 |
| Richmond, VA | metropolitan | $74,300 | −3.4% | 230 | 2025 |
| San Antonio, TX | metropolitan | $74,030 | −3.7% | 130 | 2025 |
| Bakersfield, CA | metropolitan | $73,600 | −4.3% | 40 | 2025 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | metropolitan | $73,460 | −4.5% | 160 | 2025 |
| Deltona, FL | metropolitan | $73,440 | −4.5% | 40 | 2025 |
| MN | state | $72,810 | −5.3% | 720 | 2025 |
| Tampa, FL | metropolitan | $72,560 | −5.7% | 400 | 2025 |
| Tallahassee, FL | metropolitan | $72,400 | −5.9% | 70 | 2025 |
| Charleston, WV | metropolitan | $72,340 | −5.9% | 30 | 2025 |
| NH | state | $71,830 | −6.6% | 180 | 2025 |
| Syracuse, NY | metropolitan | $71,520 | −7.0% | 50 | 2025 |
| Providence, RI | metropolitan | $70,620 | −8.2% | 120 | 2025 |
| Asheville, NC | metropolitan | $70,280 | −8.6% | 90 | 2025 |
| RI | state | $70,190 | −8.7% | 110 | 2025 |
| TX | state | $69,990 | −9.0% | 2,320 | 2025 |
| Glens Falls, NY | metropolitan | $69,320 | −9.9% | 30 | 2025 |
| Raleigh, NC | metropolitan | $69,100 | −10.2% | 360 | 2025 |
| Denver, CO | metropolitan | $69,100 | −10.2% | 860 | 2025 |
| Orlando, FL | metropolitan | $68,880 | −10.4% | 390 | 2025 |
| Madison, WI | metropolitan | $68,760 | −10.6% | 150 | 2025 |
| Rochester, NY | metropolitan | $68,600 | −10.8% | 110 | 2025 |
| IL | state | $68,220 | −11.3% | 2,640 | 2025 |
| FL | state | $68,080 | −11.5% | 3,010 | 2025 |
| Savannah, GA | metropolitan | $68,030 | −11.5% | 40 | 2025 |
| Omaha, NE | metropolitan | $67,390 | −12.4% | 120 | 2025 |
| Las Vegas, NV | metropolitan | $67,280 | −12.5% | 150 | 2025 |
| Kansas City, MO | metropolitan | $67,230 | −12.6% | 220 | 2025 |
| AL | state | $66,950 | −13.0% | 180 | 2025 |
| Medford, OR | metropolitan | $66,690 | −13.3% | 40 | 2025 |
| Miami, FL | metropolitan | $66,470 | −13.6% | 1,270 | 2025 |
| OH | state | $65,930 | −14.3% | 830 | 2025 |
| KS | state | $65,840 | −14.4% | 240 | 2025 |
| Lancaster, PA | metropolitan | $65,660 | −14.6% | 50 | 2025 |
| Buffalo, NY | metropolitan | $65,630 | −14.7% | 90 | 2025 |
| NE | state | $65,470 | −14.9% | 240 | 2025 |
| Amherst Town, MA | metropolitan | $65,290 | −15.1% | 50 | 2025 |
| Cape Coral, FL | metropolitan | $64,900 | −15.6% | 50 | 2025 |
| Dayton, OH | metropolitan | $64,690 | −15.9% | 60 | 2025 |
| UT | state | $64,530 | −16.1% | 410 | 2025 |
| Dallas, TX | metropolitan | $64,520 | −16.1% | 850 | 2025 |
| Birmingham, AL | metropolitan | $64,460 | −16.2% | 70 | 2025 |