Writer & Author salary in District of Columbia
In District of Columbia, a typical writer earned $129,300 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $128,890. About 1,050 people work in this occupation there.
That is 68% above the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in District of Columbia (median $91,540), writers earn 41% more. With a location quotient of 4.85, the occupation is more concentrated here than in the US as a whole.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $74,990, while the top 10% earned more than $172,480. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $74,990 | $36.05 |
| 25th | $100,320 | $48.23 |
| Median | $129,300 | $62.16 |
| 75th | $158,020 | $75.97 |
| 90th | $172,480 | $82.92 |
Metro areas in District of Columbia
| Metro area | Median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $108,460 | 2,060 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.