Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Writer & Author salary in Charleston, WV
$72,340
Median annual
$34.78
Median hourly
$68,970
Mean annual
30
Employed
The median annual wage for writers and authors in Charleston, WV was $72,340 in May 2025, with an average of $68,970. About 30 people work in this occupation there.
That is 6% below the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in Charleston, WV (median $45,830), writers earn 58% more.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $42,330, while the top 10% earned more than $95,410. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $42,330 | $20.35 |
| 25th | $54,330 | $26.12 |
| Median | $72,340 | $34.78 |
| 75th | $72,340 | $34.78 |
| 90th | $95,410 | $45.87 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.