Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Writer & Author salary in Arizona
$55,990
Median annual
$26.92
Median hourly
$63,240
Mean annual
600
Employed
In Arizona, a typical writer earned $55,990 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $63,240. About 600 people work in this occupation there.
That is 27% below the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in Arizona (median $50,060), writers earn 12% more. Its location quotient of 0.60 means the job is less common here than nationally.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $42,300, while the top 10% earned more than $90,990. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $42,300 | $20.34 |
| 25th | $47,340 | $22.76 |
| Median | $55,990 | $26.92 |
| 75th | $74,570 | $35.85 |
| 90th | $90,990 | $43.74 |
Metro areas in Arizona
| Metro area | Median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $58,870 | 420 |
| Tucson, AZ | $47,990 | 80 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.