Writers and Authors Pay Range in Illinois
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$41,830
- 25th Percentile — Junior$43,440
- 50th Percentile — Median$68,220
- 75th Percentile — Senior$97,280
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$134,400
Half of Writers and Authors in Illinois earn more than $68,220. The top 10% make $134,400 or more, while entry-level workers start around $41,830.
Writers and Authors in Illinois: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Illinois ranks 19th of 43 states for Writers and Authors pay, at $77,240 per year (10.3% below the U.S. average of $86,090).
- 2,640 people work as Writers and Authors in Illinois — 5.5% of all U.S. Writers and Authors jobs.
- Location quotient 1.40: Writers and Authors jobs are more concentrated in Illinois than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $41,830; the top 10% earn over $134,400.
- Hourly equivalent: $37.13 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $128,890.
- Among creative jobs in Illinois, Art Directors pays the most ($114,870).
Writers and Authors Job Market in Illinois
Key factors affecting compensation
Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Writers and Authors here earn $77,240 on average, placing the state 19th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $77,240 is roughly equivalent to $73,562 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Louisiana ($82,560), Texas ($81,210), Colorado ($81,030) are the closest alternatives for Writers and Authors weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Creative Jobs in Illinois
Related career salary benchmarks
- Art Directors $114,870/yr Illinois +48.7% vs this role
- Camera Operators Television Video Motion Picture $96,520/yr Illinois +25.0% vs this role
- Producers and Directors $95,920/yr Illinois +24.2% vs this role
- Special Effects Artists and Animators $92,680/yr Illinois +20.0% vs this role
- News Analysts Reporters and Journalists $87,560/yr Illinois +13.4% vs this role
- Public Relations Specialists $86,060/yr Illinois +11.4% vs this role
- Interior Designers $85,520/yr Illinois +10.7% vs this role
- Editors $80,620/yr Illinois +4.4% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Writers and Authors salary in Illinois?
The average Writers and Authors salary in Illinois is $77,240 per year (median $68,220), which is 10.3% below the national average of $86,090.
How does Illinois rank for Writers and Authors pay?
Illinois ranks 19th out of 43 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($128,890/yr).
How much do entry-level Writers and Authors make in Illinois?
The lowest-paid 10% of Writers and Authors in Illinois earn about $41,830 per year and the 25th percentile is $43,440.
How much do Writers and Authors make per hour in Illinois?
About $37.13 per hour, based on the $77,240 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Writers and Authors work in Illinois?
BLS counts 2,640 Writers and Authors jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).
Related Salary Pages
Explore more salary data