Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Writer & Author salary in Illinois
$68,220
Median annual
$32.80
Median hourly
$77,240
Mean annual
2,640
Employed
In Illinois, a typical writer earned $68,220 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $77,240. About 2,640 people work in this occupation there.
That is 11% below the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in Illinois (median $51,960), writers earn 31% more. With a location quotient of 1.40, the occupation is more concentrated here than in the US as a whole.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $41,830, while the top 10% earned more than $134,400. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $41,830 | $20.11 |
| 25th | $43,440 | $20.88 |
| Median | $68,220 | $32.80 |
| 75th | $97,280 | $46.77 |
| 90th | $134,400 | $64.61 |
Metro areas in Illinois
| Metro area | Median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $75,940 | 2,120 |
| West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $52,000 | 30 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.