Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Writer & Author salary in Kentucky
$48,780
Median annual
$23.45
Median hourly
$55,440
Mean annual
350
Employed
The median annual wage for writers and authors in Kentucky was $48,780 in May 2025, with an average of $55,440. About 350 people work in this occupation there.
That is 37% below the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in Kentucky (median $46,920), writers earn 4% more. Its location quotient of 0.56 means the job is less common here than nationally.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $39,580, while the top 10% earned more than $76,010. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,580 | $19.03 |
| 25th | $40,760 | $19.60 |
| Median | $48,780 | $23.45 |
| 75th | $64,550 | $31.04 |
| 90th | $76,010 | $36.54 |
Metro areas in Kentucky
| Metro area | Median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $52,520 | 130 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $51,170 | 50 |
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $40,760 | 60 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.