Writers and Authors salary in the U.S.
Writers and Authors in the U.S. earn a median of $76,910 a year ($36.98 an hour), based on BLS data for 47,940 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $139,870 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $86,090, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for writers and authors in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,310 | $21.31 |
| 25th percentile | $58,230 | $28.00 |
| Median | $76,910 | $36.98 |
| 75th percentile | $101,950 | $49.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $139,870 | $67.25 |
| Average (mean) | $86,090 | $41.39 |
Half of writers and authors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,409.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,204.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,958.08 |
| Weekly | $1,479.04 |
| Hourly | $36.98 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Writers and Authors salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $129,300 | 1,050 |
| Maryland | $104,330 | 540 |
| Connecticut | $98,460 | 480 |
| Vermont | $94,430 | 110 |
| Louisiana | $89,520 | 480 |
| California | $86,480 | 8,390 |
| Washington | $85,700 | 770 |
| Massachusetts | $85,260 | 1,350 |
| Virginia | $85,000 | 1,530 |
| New Jersey | $81,590 | 1,180 |
| Oregon | $80,540 | 950 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,410 | 1,080 |
| Colorado | $76,830 | 1,300 |
| Indiana | $75,820 | 450 |
| Georgia | $74,710 | 820 |
| Minnesota | $72,810 | 720 |
| New Hampshire | $71,830 | 180 |
| Rhode Island | $70,190 | 110 |
| Texas | $69,990 | 2,320 |
| Illinois | $68,220 | 2,640 |
| Florida | $68,080 | 3,010 |
| Alabama | $66,950 | 180 |
| Ohio | $65,930 | 830 |
| Kansas | $65,840 | 240 |
| Nebraska | $65,470 | 240 |
| Utah | $64,530 | 410 |
| West Virginia | $64,410 | 110 |
| Wisconsin | $64,370 | 710 |
| Nevada | $63,910 | 190 |
| North Carolina | $63,660 | 1,810 |
| Iowa | $61,010 | 290 |
| Tennessee | $58,870 | 1,260 |
| Oklahoma | $58,770 | 220 |
| Missouri | $58,140 | 600 |
| South Dakota | $56,700 | 60 |
| Idaho | $56,360 | 90 |
| Arizona | $55,990 | 600 |
| Mississippi | $54,180 | 130 |
| South Carolina | $51,920 | 520 |
| North Dakota | $50,860 | 80 |
| Wyoming | $49,650 | n/a |
| Kentucky | $48,780 | 350 |
| Arkansas | $47,970 | 270 |
| Puerto Rico | $43,440 | 90 |
Best-paying metro areas for writers and authors
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $127,350 | 50 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $118,810 | 400 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $108,460 | 2,060 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $107,700 | 50 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $103,060 | 150 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $102,570 | n/a |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $98,730 | 520 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $97,160 | 140 |
| New Haven, CT | $94,410 | 60 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $90,060 | 110 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $87,560 | 600 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $87,020 | 240 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $86,340 | 30 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $85,260 | 1,130 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $85,020 | 40 |
Metro areas with the most writers and authors
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,120 | $75,940 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 2,060 | $108,460 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,270 | $66,470 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,130 | $85,260 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 860 | $69,100 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 850 | $64,520 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 600 | $87,560 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 570 | $76,470 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 560 | $84,130 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 520 | $63,270 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 520 | $98,730 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 510 | $75,760 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 490 | $81,990 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 420 | $75,380 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 420 | $63,720 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Editor | $77,920 | $37.46 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $60,170 | $28.93 |
| Technical Writer | $90,390 | $43.46 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $62,200 | $29.91 |
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $47,340 | $22.76 |
| Media and Communication Workers, All Other | $73,620 | $35.39 |
| Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners | $72,420 | $34.82 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | — |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,360 | $43.44 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 | $32.31 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $58,100 | $27.93 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-3043. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a writers and authors make in the U.S.?
The median salary for writers and authors in the U.S. is $76,910 a year, or $36.98 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $139,870 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid writers and authors make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of writers and authors in the U.S. earn at least $139,870 a year. The top 25% earn $101,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for writers and authors in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,310 a year, and a quarter of writers and authors earn $58,230 or less.
How many writers and authors work in the U.S.?
About 47,940 writers and authors are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.