Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Writer & Author salary in Columbia, MO
$63,030
Median annual
$30.30
Median hourly
$67,820
Mean annual
40
Employed
In Columbia, MO, a typical writer earned $63,030 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $67,820. About 40 people work in this occupation there.
That is 18% below the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in Columbia, MO (median $47,260), writers earn 33% more.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $47,050, while the top 10% earned more than $82,630. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,050 | $22.62 |
| 25th | $52,000 | $25.00 |
| Median | $63,030 | $30.30 |
| 75th | $77,200 | $37.12 |
| 90th | $82,630 | $39.73 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.