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Top 15 cities for writers and authors by average salary
| Waterbury, CT | $186,370 |
|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $120,540 |
| Washington, DC | $118,070 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $113,000 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $111,590 |
| Oxnard, CA | $102,320 |
| San Diego, CA | $101,560 |
| Baltimore, MD | $101,430 |
| Deltona, FL | $99,910 |
| Seattle, WA | $98,430 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $98,070 |
| Hartford, CT | $95,970 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $95,850 |
| New Haven, CT | $95,520 |
| Boston, MA | $94,580 |
Map: Writers and Authors salary by metro area
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Writers and Authors salary by state
Washington, D.C. pays writers and authors the most statewide, $128,890 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, D.C. | $128,890 | $129,300 | 1,050 | 1 | $118,070 | $118,070 |
| Connecticut | $110,420 | $98,460 | 480 | 5 | $186,370 | $84,080 |
| Maryland | $109,650 | $104,330 | 540 | 1 | $101,430 | $101,430 |
| California | $106,560 | $86,480 | 8,390 | 11 | $120,540 | $78,550 |
| Vermont | $96,260 | $94,430 | 110 | 1 | $90,860 | $90,860 |
| Massachusetts | $94,580 | $85,260 | 1,350 | 3 | $94,580 | $75,660 |
| Washington | $90,740 | $85,700 | 770 | 2 | $98,430 | $65,180 |
| Pennsylvania | $90,060 | $77,410 | 1,080 | 3 | $95,850 | $70,700 |
| New York | n/a | n/a | 7,480 | 5 | $88,960 | $75,260 |
| Virginia | $88,260 | $85,000 | 1,530 | 3 | $80,940 | $71,390 |
| Oregon | $87,800 | $80,540 | 950 | 3 | $94,070 | $75,820 |
| New Jersey | $87,170 | $81,590 | 1,180 | 2 | $84,730 | $63,280 |
| Indiana | $85,430 | $75,820 | 450 | 1 | $73,160 | $73,160 |
| Michigan | n/a | n/a | n/a | 3 | $83,390 | $46,040 |
| Georgia | $83,270 | $74,710 | 820 | 2 | $87,510 | $69,630 |
| Rhode Island | $82,940 | $70,190 | 110 | 1 | $82,710 | $82,710 |
| Louisiana | $82,560 | $89,520 | 480 | 2 | $83,730 | $76,580 |
| Texas | $81,210 | $69,990 | 2,320 | 4 | $92,620 | $78,740 |
| Colorado | $81,030 | $76,830 | 1,300 | 5 | $92,440 | $74,840 |
| New Hampshire | $79,310 | $71,830 | 180 | 1 | $69,440 | $69,440 |
| Illinois | $77,240 | $68,220 | 2,640 | 1 | $80,510 | $80,510 |
| Minnesota | $76,110 | $72,810 | 720 | 1 | $78,890 | $78,890 |
| Florida | $74,890 | $68,080 | 3,010 | 8 | $99,910 | $62,210 |
| Alabama | $72,720 | $66,950 | 180 | 2 | $79,460 | $69,150 |
| North Carolina | $72,340 | $63,660 | 1,810 | 8 | $83,700 | $57,270 |
| Utah | $71,670 | $64,530 | 410 | 2 | $77,830 | $66,610 |
| Ohio | $69,630 | $65,930 | 830 | 6 | $76,250 | $59,760 |
| Nebraska | $69,010 | $65,470 | 240 | 2 | $71,760 | $61,190 |
| West Virginia | $67,860 | $64,410 | 110 | 1 | $68,970 | $68,970 |
| Wisconsin | $67,210 | $64,370 | 710 | 3 | $72,410 | $63,540 |
| Oklahoma | $66,250 | $58,770 | 220 | 2 | $71,680 | $68,370 |
| Tennessee | $66,180 | $58,870 | 1,260 | 5 | $77,230 | $57,820 |
| Missouri | $66,070 | $58,140 | 600 | 4 | $71,980 | $60,370 |
| Idaho | $65,800 | $56,360 | 90 | 1 | $70,230 | $70,230 |
| Nevada | $63,980 | $63,910 | 190 | 1 | $65,170 | $65,170 |
| Arizona | $63,240 | $55,990 | 600 | 2 | $65,580 | $53,860 |
| Iowa | $62,780 | $61,010 | 290 | 3 | $67,610 | $55,070 |
| Kansas | $62,370 | $65,840 | 240 | 1 | $54,810 | $54,810 |
| New Mexico | n/a | n/a | 90 | 1 | $60,240 | $60,240 |
| South Carolina | $58,440 | $51,920 | 520 | 3 | $67,880 | $48,520 |
| South Dakota | $57,230 | $56,700 | 60 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| North Dakota | $57,180 | $50,860 | 80 | 1 | $59,210 | $59,210 |
| Mississippi | $56,330 | $54,180 | 130 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Kentucky | $55,440 | $48,780 | 350 | 2 | $57,290 | $56,940 |
| Arkansas | $54,190 | $47,970 | 270 | 2 | $61,250 | $53,380 |
| Wyoming | $52,430 | $49,650 | n/a | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Puerto Rico | $44,990 | $43,440 | 90 | 1 | $45,340 | $45,340 |
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Writers and Authors salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterbury, CT | $186,370 | $127,350 | $89.60 | 50 |
| San Jose, CA | $120,540 | $118,810 | $57.95 | 400 |
| Washington, DC | $118,070 | $108,460 | $56.76 | 2,060 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $113,000 | $107,700 | $54.33 | 50 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $111,590 | $103,060 | $53.65 | 150 |
| Oxnard, CA | $102,320 | $82,920 | $49.19 | 70 |
| San Diego, CA | $101,560 | $82,590 | $48.83 | 350 |
| Baltimore, MD | $101,430 | $87,020 | $48.77 | 240 |
| Deltona, FL | $99,910 | $73,440 | $48.04 | 40 |
| Seattle, WA | $98,430 | $98,730 | $47.32 | 520 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $98,070 | $77,250 | $47.15 | n/a |
| Hartford, CT | $95,970 | $97,160 | $46.14 | 140 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $95,850 | $84,130 | $46.08 | 560 |
| New Haven, CT | $95,520 | $94,410 | $45.92 | 60 |
| Boston, MA | $94,580 | $85,260 | $45.47 | 1,130 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $94,260 | $86,340 | $45.32 | 30 |
| Portland, OR | $94,070 | $87,560 | $45.23 | 600 |
| Worcester, MA | $93,370 | $80,490 | $44.89 | 80 |
| Austin, TX | $92,620 | $75,380 | $44.53 | 420 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $92,440 | $102,570 | $44.44 | n/a |
| Sacramento, CA | $92,290 | $82,690 | $44.37 | 240 |
| Burlington, VT | $90,860 | $85,020 | $43.68 | 40 |
| Boulder, CO | $90,190 | $83,540 | $43.36 | 130 |
| Albany, NY | $88,960 | $78,050 | $42.77 | 90 |
| Riverside, CA | $88,320 | $78,990 | $42.46 | 190 |
| Atlanta, GA | $87,510 | $81,990 | $42.07 | 490 |
| Trenton, NJ | $84,730 | $90,060 | $40.74 | 110 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $84,700 | $74,820 | $40.72 | 40 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $84,620 | $83,770 | $40.68 | 130 |
| Norwich, CT | $84,080 | $84,940 | $40.43 | 40 |
| New Orleans, LA | $83,730 | $79,020 | $40.26 | 120 |
| Durham, NC | $83,700 | $84,130 | $40.24 | 130 |
| Detroit, MI | $83,390 | $75,760 | $40.09 | 510 |
| Providence, RI | $82,710 | $70,620 | $39.76 | 120 |
| Medford, OR | $82,240 | $66,690 | $39.54 | 40 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $81,820 | $73,600 | $39.34 | 40 |
| Rochester, NY | $81,120 | $68,600 | $39.00 | 110 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $80,940 | $76,990 | $38.92 | 70 |
| Chicago, IL | $80,510 | $75,940 | $38.71 | 2,120 |
| Syracuse, NY | $80,160 | $71,520 | $38.54 | 50 |
| Houston, TX | $79,840 | $76,120 | $38.38 | 400 |
| Montgomery, AL | $79,460 | $76,710 | $38.20 | 30 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $79,410 | $77,740 | $38.18 | 50 |
| Dallas, TX | $78,900 | $64,520 | $37.93 | 850 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $78,890 | $76,470 | $37.93 | 570 |
| San Antonio, TX | $78,740 | $74,030 | $37.86 | 130 |
| Fresno, CA | $78,550 | $77,060 | $37.77 | 70 |
| Greensboro, NC | $78,410 | $63,270 | $37.70 | 100 |
| Raleigh, NC | $78,320 | $69,100 | $37.66 | 360 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $78,160 | $69,320 | $37.58 | 30 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $77,830 | $76,390 | $37.42 | 210 |
| Denver, CO | $77,800 | $69,100 | $37.41 | 860 |
| Orlando, FL | $77,770 | $68,880 | $37.39 | 390 |
| Knoxville, TN | $77,230 | $63,080 | $37.13 | 180 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $76,580 | $76,000 | $36.82 | 90 |
| Tampa, FL | $76,290 | $72,560 | $36.68 | 400 |
| Columbus, OH | $76,250 | $76,490 | $36.66 | 240 |
| Bend, OR | $75,820 | $55,930 | $36.45 | 50 |
| Amherst, MA | $75,660 | $65,290 | $36.37 | 50 |
| Buffalo, NY | $75,260 | $65,630 | $36.18 | 90 |
| Charlotte, NC | $74,940 | $63,720 | $36.03 | 420 |
| Greeley, CO | $74,840 | $82,060 | $35.98 | 40 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $74,730 | $73,460 | $35.93 | 160 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $73,160 | $63,640 | $35.18 | 50 |
| Lansing, MI | $72,480 | $61,980 | $34.84 | 30 |
| Madison, WI | $72,410 | $68,760 | $34.81 | 150 |
| Kansas City, MO | $71,980 | $67,230 | $34.60 | 220 |
| Omaha, NE | $71,760 | $67,390 | $34.50 | 120 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $71,680 | $64,100 | $34.46 | n/a |
| Richmond, VA | $71,390 | $74,300 | $34.32 | 230 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $70,840 | $72,400 | $34.06 | 70 |
| Lancaster, PA | $70,700 | $65,660 | $33.99 | 50 |
| Toledo, OH | $70,290 | $63,090 | $33.80 | 30 |
| Boise, ID | $70,230 | $61,650 | $33.76 | 40 |
| Fort Myers, FL | $70,180 | $64,900 | $33.74 | 50 |
| Savannah, GA | $69,630 | $68,030 | $33.48 | 40 |
| Manchester, NH | $69,440 | $64,010 | $33.39 | 50 |
| Miami, FL | $69,200 | $66,470 | $33.27 | 1,270 |
| Birmingham, AL | $69,150 | $64,460 | $33.25 | 70 |
| Charleston, WV | $68,970 | $72,340 | $33.16 | 30 |
| Nashville, TN | $68,520 | $63,270 | $32.94 | 520 |
| Tulsa, OK | $68,370 | $63,780 | $32.87 | 50 |
| Asheville, NC | $67,960 | $70,280 | $32.67 | 90 |
| Charleston, SC | $67,880 | $78,000 | $32.64 | 130 |
| Columbia, MO | $67,820 | $63,030 | $32.61 | 40 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $67,650 | $61,460 | $32.52 | 50 |
| Des Moines, IA | $67,610 | $63,010 | $32.50 | 90 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $67,570 | $62,110 | $32.49 | 40 |
| St. Louis, MO | $67,100 | $57,390 | $32.26 | 300 |
| Provo, UT | $66,610 | $62,060 | $32.03 | 140 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $65,580 | $58,870 | $31.53 | 420 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $65,470 | $61,400 | $31.48 | 110 |
| Spokane, WA | $65,180 | $62,060 | $31.34 | 60 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $65,170 | $67,280 | $31.33 | 150 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $64,170 | $63,910 | $30.85 | 270 |
| Dayton, OH | $63,750 | $64,690 | $30.65 | 60 |
| Cleveland, OH | $63,740 | $60,880 | $30.64 | 170 |
| Green Bay, WI | $63,540 | $61,500 | $30.55 | 40 |
| Sarasota, FL | $63,530 | $60,640 | $30.54 | 60 |
| Memphis, TN | $63,350 | $58,480 | $30.46 | 170 |
| Atlantic City, NJ | $63,280 | $60,700 | $30.43 | 50 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $62,210 | $56,760 | $29.91 | n/a |
| Cincinnati, OH | $62,160 | $62,440 | $29.89 | 170 |
| Fayetteville, AR | $61,250 | $50,720 | $29.45 | 80 |
| Lincoln, NE | $61,190 | $60,200 | $29.42 | 60 |
| Springfield, MO | $60,370 | $51,260 | $29.02 | 30 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $60,240 | $53,490 | $28.96 | 60 |
| Akron, OH | $59,760 | $59,900 | $28.73 | 40 |
| Wilmington, NC | $59,360 | $47,940 | $28.54 | 180 |
| Fargo, ND | $59,210 | $50,860 | $28.46 | 40 |
| Kingsport, TN | $57,820 | $57,600 | $27.80 | 40 |
| Louisville, KY | $57,290 | $52,520 | $27.54 | 130 |
| Hickory, NC | $57,270 | $47,300 | $27.54 | 40 |
| Lexington, KY | $56,940 | $51,170 | $27.38 | 50 |
| Greenville, SC | $56,850 | $49,980 | $27.33 | 130 |
| Iowa City, IA | $55,070 | $49,000 | $26.48 | 50 |
| Topeka, KS | $54,810 | $51,610 | $26.35 | n/a |
| Tucson, AZ | $53,860 | $47,990 | $25.89 | 80 |
| Little Rock, AR | $53,380 | $47,210 | $25.66 | 100 |
| Columbia, SC | $48,520 | $41,600 | $23.33 | n/a |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $46,040 | $37,330 | $22.14 | 190 |
| San Juan, PR | $45,340 | $44,300 | $21.80 | 80 |
Related jobs
- Public Relations SpecialistsU.S. average $84,120
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc JockeysU.S. average $78,720
- News Analysts, Reporters, and JournalistsU.S. average $102,460
- EditorsU.S. average $90,060
- Technical WritersU.S. average $96,970
- Interpreters and TranslatorsU.S. average $66,360
- Media and Communication Workers, All OtherU.S. average $83,860
- Court Reporters and Simultaneous CaptionersU.S. average $78,760
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Writers and Authors salary: questions
Where do writers and authors make the most money?
In Waterbury, CT, with an average of $186,370 a year, among the 122 metro areas we cover.
What is the average writers and authors salary in the U.S.?
$86,090 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $76,910, so half of writers and authors earn more than that and half less.
What salary should writers and authors ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of writers and authors nationwide earn between $58,230 (25th percentile) and $101,950 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays writers and authors the most?
Washington, D.C., with a statewide average of $128,890 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is writers and authors pay the lowest?
San Juan, PR, at $45,340 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-3043.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.