Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Writer & Author salary in Massachusetts
$85,260
Median annual
$40.99
Median hourly
$94,580
Mean annual
1,350
Employed
In Massachusetts, a typical writer earned $85,260 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $94,580. About 1,350 people work in this occupation there.
That is 11% above the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in Massachusetts (median $63,590), writers earn 34% more. With a location quotient of 1.20, the occupation is more concentrated here than in the US as a whole.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $58,910, while the top 10% earned more than $138,950. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $58,910 | $28.32 |
| 25th | $67,770 | $32.58 |
| Median | $85,260 | $40.99 |
| 75th | $108,030 | $51.94 |
| 90th | $138,950 | $66.80 |
Metro areas in Massachusetts
| Metro area | Median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $85,260 | 1,130 |
| Worcester, MA | $80,490 | 80 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $65,290 | 50 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.