Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Writer & Author salary in Iowa
$61,010
Median annual
$29.33
Median hourly
$62,780
Mean annual
290
Employed
In Iowa, a typical writer earned $61,010 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $62,780. About 290 people work in this occupation there.
That is 21% below the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in Iowa (median $48,540), writers earn 26% 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 $48,260, while the top 10% earned more than $88,560. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,260 | $23.20 |
| 25th | $50,280 | $24.17 |
| Median | $61,010 | $29.33 |
| 75th | $69,220 | $33.28 |
| 90th | $88,560 | $42.58 |
Metro areas in Iowa
| Metro area | Median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $63,010 | 90 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $62,110 | 40 |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $60,990 | 40 |
| Iowa City, IA | $49,000 | 50 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.