Writer & Author salary in Iowa City, IA
The median annual wage for writers and authors in Iowa City, IA was $49,000 in May 2025, with an average of $55,070. About 50 people work in this occupation there.
That is 36% below the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in Iowa City, IA (median $50,060), writers earn 2% less. With a location quotient of 1.71, the occupation is more concentrated here than in the US as a whole.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $48,260, while the top 10% earned more than $65,860. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,260 | $23.20 |
| 25th | $48,260 | $23.20 |
| Median | $49,000 | $23.56 |
| 75th | $61,010 | $29.33 |
| 90th | $65,860 | $31.67 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.