Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Writer & Author salary in the US
$76,910
Median annual
$36.98
Median hourly
$139,870
Top 10% earn over
47,940
Employed
In the United States, a typical writer earned $76,910 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $86,090. About 47,940 people work in this occupation there.
Compared with all occupations in the United States (median $50,980), writers earn 51% more.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $44,310, while the top 10% earned more than $139,870. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Writer & Author salary by state
| State | Median | Mean | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $129,300 | $128,890 | $74,990 | $172,480 | 1,050 |
| Maryland | $104,330 | $109,650 | $59,560 | $165,050 | 540 |
| Connecticut | $98,460 | $110,420 | $52,250 | $153,560 | 480 |
| Vermont | $94,430 | $96,260 | $73,290 | $132,810 | 110 |
| Louisiana | $89,520 | $82,560 | $29,740 | $114,810 | 480 |
| California | $86,480 | $106,560 | $56,730 | $193,080 | 8,390 |
| Washington | $85,700 | $90,740 | $50,600 | $129,480 | 770 |
| Massachusetts | $85,260 | $94,580 | $58,910 | $138,950 | 1,350 |
| Virginia | $85,000 | $88,260 | $44,190 | $131,040 | 1,530 |
| New Jersey | $81,590 | $87,170 | $49,770 | $128,820 | 1,180 |
| Oregon | $80,540 | $87,800 | $46,180 | $158,190 | 950 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,410 | $90,060 | $40,270 | $178,490 | 1,080 |
| Colorado | $76,830 | $81,030 | $42,810 | $132,630 | 1,300 |
| Indiana | $75,820 | $85,430 | $51,640 | $128,640 | 450 |
| Georgia | $74,710 | $83,270 | $38,460 | $133,540 | 820 |
| Minnesota | $72,810 | $76,110 | $50,700 | $103,890 | 720 |
| New Hampshire | $71,830 | $79,310 | $43,200 | $132,870 | 180 |
| Rhode Island | $70,190 | $82,940 | $42,060 | $130,000 | 110 |
| Texas | $69,990 | $81,210 | $49,070 | $125,240 | 2,320 |
| Illinois | $68,220 | $77,240 | $41,830 | $134,400 | 2,640 |
| Florida | $68,080 | $74,890 | $41,650 | $102,540 | 3,010 |
| Alabama | $66,950 | $72,720 | $39,830 | $115,210 | 180 |
| Ohio | $65,930 | $69,630 | $40,190 | $101,710 | 830 |
| Kansas | $65,840 | $62,370 | $30,920 | $92,660 | 240 |
| Nebraska | $65,470 | $69,010 | $44,230 | $93,600 | 240 |
| Utah | $64,530 | $71,670 | $36,260 | $101,460 | 410 |
| West Virginia | $64,410 | $67,860 | $24,340 | $103,380 | 110 |
| Wisconsin | $64,370 | $67,210 | $47,410 | $90,880 | 710 |
| Nevada | $63,910 | $63,980 | $40,560 | $83,130 | 190 |
| North Carolina | $63,660 | $72,340 | $42,180 | $117,820 | 1,810 |
| Iowa | $61,010 | $62,780 | $48,260 | $88,560 | 290 |
| Tennessee | $58,870 | $66,180 | $38,720 | $100,910 | 1,260 |
| Oklahoma | $58,770 | $66,250 | $38,230 | $98,230 | 220 |
| Missouri | $58,140 | $66,070 | $42,000 | $98,930 | 600 |
| South Dakota | $56,700 | $57,230 | $45,760 | $68,890 | 60 |
| Idaho | $56,360 | $65,800 | $44,660 | $108,890 | 90 |
| Arizona | $55,990 | $63,240 | $42,300 | $90,990 | 600 |
| Mississippi | $54,180 | $56,330 | $25,820 | $85,550 | 130 |
| South Carolina | $51,920 | $58,440 | $38,210 | $91,140 | 520 |
| North Dakota | $50,860 | $57,180 | $35,000 | $83,920 | 80 |
| Wyoming | $49,650 | $52,430 | $41,170 | $66,510 | — |
| Kentucky | $48,780 | $55,440 | $39,580 | $76,010 | 350 |
| Arkansas | $47,970 | $54,190 | $30,560 | $79,350 | 270 |
| Puerto Rico | $43,440 | $44,990 | $30,040 | $66,680 | 90 |
Highest-paying metro areas
Compare
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Excludes self-employed workers.