Writer & Author salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
The median annual wage for writers and authors in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC was $84,130 in May 2025, with an average of $83,700. About 130 people work in this occupation there.
That is 9% above the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (median $60,720), writers earn 39% more. With a location quotient of 1.24, the occupation is more concentrated here than in the US as a whole.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $47,980, while the top 10% earned more than $117,890. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,980 | $23.07 |
| 25th | $63,370 | $30.47 |
| Median | $84,130 | $40.45 |
| 75th | $96,610 | $46.45 |
| 90th | $117,890 | $56.68 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.