BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Writers and Authors in Kentucky

$55,440 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$26.65 per hour

▼ 35.6% below U.S. average41st of 43 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$55,440per year
Median$48,780per year
Hourly$26.65per hour
10th – 90th percentile$39,580 – $76,010per year

Writers and Authors Pay Range in Kentucky

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$39,580
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$40,760
  • 50th Percentile — Median$48,780
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$64,550
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$76,010

Half of Writers and Authors in Kentucky earn more than $48,780. The top 10% make $76,010 or more, while entry-level workers start around $39,580.

Writers and Authors in Kentucky: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Kentucky ranks 41st of 43 states for Writers and Authors pay, at $55,440 per year (35.6% below the U.S. average of $86,090).
  • 350 people work as Writers and Authors in Kentucky — 0.7% of all U.S. Writers and Authors jobs.
  • Location quotient 0.56: Writers and Authors jobs are less concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $39,580; the top 10% earn over $76,010.
  • Hourly equivalent: $26.65 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $128,890.
  • Among creative jobs in Kentucky, Art Directors pays the most ($80,360).

Writers and Authors Job Market in Kentucky

Key factors affecting compensation

Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Writers and Authors here earn $55,440 on average, placing the state 41st nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $55,440 is roughly equivalent to $66,795 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, South Carolina ($58,440), South Dakota ($57,230), North Dakota ($57,180) 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 Kentucky?

The average Writers and Authors salary in Kentucky is $55,440 per year (median $48,780), which is 35.6% below the national average of $86,090.

How does Kentucky rank for Writers and Authors pay?

Kentucky ranks 41st 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 Kentucky?

The lowest-paid 10% of Writers and Authors in Kentucky earn about $39,580 per year and the 25th percentile is $40,760.

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

About $26.65 per hour, based on the $55,440 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Writers and Authors work in Kentucky?

BLS counts 350 Writers and Authors jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).

Explore more salary data