Writers and Authors pay range in Austin
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $161,380 or more. The middle half of writers and authors in Austin earn between $55,740 and $108,840.
- $51K10th
- $56K25th
- $75KMedian
- $109K75th
- $161K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $92,620 | $7,718 | $44.53 |
| Median | $75,380 | $6,282 | $36.24 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $55,740 | $4,645 | $26.80 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $108,840 | $9,070 | $52.33 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Writers and Authors pay in Austin vs. Texas and the U.S.
Writers and authors in Austin earn 14% more than the Texas average ($81,210) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($86,090). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $76,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | $92,620 | $75,380 | $50,640 | $161,380 | 420 |
| Texas | $81,210 | $69,990 | $49,070 | $125,240 | 2,320 |
| United States | $86,090 | $76,910 | $44,310 | $139,870 | 47,940 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Writers and Authors salary after taxes in Austin
On the average salary of $92,620, a single filer in Austin takes home about $73,988 a year, or $6,166 a month and $2,846 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Austin a good place for writers and authors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Austin area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.1), so the average $92,620 buys what about $94,447 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Austin ($56,950). A typical home costs $428,524, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Writers and Authors salary in other Texas cities
Austin ranks 1st of 4 Texas metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Austin$92,620
- Houston$79,840
- Dallas$78,900
- San Antonio$78,740
Highest-paying cities for writers and authors
Waterbury, CT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($186,370).
- Waterbury, CT$186,370
- San Jose, CA$120,540
- Washington, DC$118,070
- Santa Rosa, CA$113,000
- Bridgeport, CT$111,590
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Writers and Authors salary in Austin: questions
How much do writers and authors make an hour in Austin?
$44.53 an hour on average, and $36.24 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level writers and authors salary in Austin?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $55,740, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the writers and authors take-home pay in Austin?
About $73,988 a year ($6,166 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $92,620. Texas has no state income tax.
Do writers and authors earn more in Austin than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% more than the U.S. average for this job ($86,090).
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; area Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX (12420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.1%.
- 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.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.05, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.