Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Writer & Author salary in Columbia, SC
$41,600
Median annual
$20.00
Median hourly
$48,520
Mean annual
—
Employed
The median annual wage for writers and authors in Columbia, SC was $41,600 in May 2025, with an average of $48,520.
That is 46% below the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in Columbia, SC (median $46,430), writers earn 10% less.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $37,260, while the top 10% earned more than $62,400. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,260 | $17.91 |
| 25th | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| Median | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| 75th | $46,120 | $22.17 |
| 90th | $62,400 | $30.00 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.