Writer & Author salary in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
In Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, a typical writer earned $85,260 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $94,580. About 1,130 people work in this occupation there.
That is 11% above the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (median $66,620), writers earn 28% more. With a location quotient of 1.35, the occupation is more concentrated here than in the US as a whole.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $59,150, 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 | $59,150 | $28.44 |
| 25th | $72,400 | $34.81 |
| Median | $85,260 | $40.99 |
| 75th | $108,030 | $51.94 |
| 90th | $138,950 | $66.80 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.