BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Writers and Authors in Iowa

$62,780 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$30.18 per hour

▼ 27.1% below U.S. average35th of 43 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$62,780per year
Median$61,010per year
Hourly$30.18per hour
10th – 90th percentile$48,260 – $88,560per year

Writers and Authors Pay Range in Iowa

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$48,260
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$50,280
  • 50th Percentile — Median$61,010
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$69,220
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$88,560

Half of Writers and Authors in Iowa earn more than $61,010. The top 10% make $88,560 or more, while entry-level workers start around $48,260.

Writers and Authors in Iowa: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Iowa ranks 35th of 43 states for Writers and Authors pay, at $62,780 per year (27.1% below the U.S. average of $86,090).
  • 290 people work as Writers and Authors in Iowa — 0.6% of all U.S. Writers and Authors jobs.
  • Location quotient 0.60: Writers and Authors jobs are less concentrated in Iowa than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $48,260; the top 10% earn over $88,560.
  • Hourly equivalent: $30.18 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $128,890.
  • Among creative jobs in Iowa, Art Directors pays the most ($91,220).

Writers and Authors Job Market in Iowa

Key factors affecting compensation

Iowa's key industries are Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance, and its job market is rated moderate. Writers and Authors here earn $62,780 on average, placing the state 35th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 0.86 (U.S. = 1.00), a Iowa salary of $62,780 is roughly equivalent to $73,000 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Missouri ($66,070), Idaho ($65,800), Nevada ($63,980) 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

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Writers and Authors salary in Iowa?

The average Writers and Authors salary in Iowa is $62,780 per year (median $61,010), which is 27.1% below the national average of $86,090.

How does Iowa rank for Writers and Authors pay?

Iowa ranks 35th 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 Iowa?

The lowest-paid 10% of Writers and Authors in Iowa earn about $48,260 per year and the 25th percentile is $50,280.

How much do Writers and Authors make per hour in Iowa?

About $30.18 per hour, based on the $62,780 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Writers and Authors work in Iowa?

BLS counts 290 Writers and Authors jobs in Iowa (OEWS May 2025).

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