Writer & Author salary in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
The median annual wage for writers and authors in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD was $87,020 in May 2025, with an average of $101,430. About 240 people work in this occupation there.
That is 13% above the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD (median $59,070), writers earn 47% more. Its location quotient of 0.57 means the job is less common here than nationally.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $56,680, while the top 10% earned more than $163,630. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $56,680 | $27.25 |
| 25th | $70,350 | $33.82 |
| Median | $87,020 | $41.84 |
| 75th | $121,680 | $58.50 |
| 90th | $163,630 | $78.67 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.