Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$44,310
- 25th Percentile — Junior$58,230
- 50th Percentile — Median$76,910
- 75th Percentile — Senior$101,950
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$139,870
The top 10% of Writers and Authors earn $139,870 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $44,310, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii (est.) | $133,440 | +55.0% |
| District of Columbia | $128,890 | +49.7% |
| New York (est.) | $118,804 | +38.0% |
| Alaska (est.) | $113,639 | +32.0% |
| Connecticut | $110,420 | +28.3% |
| Maryland | $109,650 | +27.4% |
| California | $106,560 | +23.8% |
| Vermont | $96,260 | +11.8% |
| Massachusetts | $94,580 | +9.9% |
| Washington | $90,740 | +5.4% |
| Delaware (est.) | $90,394 | +5.0% |
| Pennsylvania | $90,060 | +4.6% |
| Virginia | $88,260 | +2.5% |
| Maine (est.) | $87,812 | +2.0% |
| Oregon | $87,800 | +2.0% |
| New Jersey | $87,170 | +1.3% |
| Indiana | $85,430 | -0.8% |
| Georgia | $83,270 | -3.3% |
| Rhode Island | $82,940 | -3.7% |
| Louisiana | $82,560 | -4.1% |
| Montana (est.) | $81,786 | -5.0% |
| Texas | $81,210 | -5.7% |
| Colorado | $81,030 | -5.9% |
| New Hampshire | $79,310 | -7.9% |
| Michigan (est.) | $77,481 | -10.0% |
| Illinois | $77,240 | -10.3% |
| Minnesota | $76,110 | -11.6% |
| New Mexico (est.) | $75,759 | -12.0% |
| Florida | $74,890 | -13.0% |
| Alabama | $72,720 | -15.5% |
| North Carolina | $72,340 | -16.0% |
| Utah | $71,670 | -16.7% |
| Ohio | $69,630 | -19.1% |
| Nebraska | $69,010 | -19.8% |
| West Virginia | $67,860 | -21.2% |
| Wisconsin | $67,210 | -21.9% |
| Oklahoma | $66,250 | -23.0% |
| Tennessee | $66,180 | -23.1% |
| Missouri | $66,070 | -23.3% |
| Idaho | $65,800 | -23.6% |
| Nevada | $63,980 | -25.7% |
| Arizona | $63,240 | -26.5% |
| Iowa | $62,780 | -27.1% |
| Kansas | $62,370 | -27.6% |
| South Carolina | $58,440 | -32.1% |
| South Dakota | $57,230 | -33.5% |
| North Dakota | $57,180 | -33.6% |
| Mississippi | $56,330 | -34.6% |
| Kentucky | $55,440 | -35.6% |
| Arkansas | $54,190 | -37.1% |
| Wyoming | $52,430 | -39.1% |
What Factors Affect Writers and Authors Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Writers and Authors is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: District of Columbia pays an average of $128,890, while Wyoming pays $52,430 — a gap of $76,460 per year.
The middle half of Writers and Authors earn between $58,230 and $101,950 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $44,310, while the top 10% earn more than $139,870.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Compare with Similar Jobs
Related career salary benchmarks
- Graphic Designers $70,560/yr United States 18.0% vs this role
- Art Directors $129,440/yr United States +50.4% vs this role
- Interior Designers $74,540/yr United States 13.4% vs this role
- Fashion Designers $91,230/yr United States +6.0% vs this role
- Producers and Directors $113,300/yr United States +31.6% vs this role
- Editors $90,060/yr United States +4.6% vs this role
- Registered Nurses $101,420/yr United States +17.8% vs this role
- Nurse Practitioners $137,300/yr United States +59.5% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Writers and Authors?
The average salary for Writers and Authors in the United States is $86,090 per year, with a median of $76,910.
What is the starting salary for Writers and Authors?
Entry-level Writers and Authors typically earn between $44,310 and $58,230 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Writers and Authors the most?
District of Columbia pays Writers and Authors the most at $128,890 per year on average, followed by Connecticut ($110,420) and Maryland ($109,650).
How much do Writers and Authors make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $86,090, Writers and Authors earn approximately $41.39 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Writers and Authors a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 47,940 Writers and Authors jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $86,090 and a median of $76,910 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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