Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Writer & Author salary in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
$79,020
Median annual
$37.99
Median hourly
$83,730
Mean annual
120
Employed
In New Orleans-Metairie, LA, a typical writer earned $79,020 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $83,730. About 120 people work in this occupation there.
That is 3% above the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in New Orleans-Metairie, LA (median $47,290), writers earn 67% more.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $29,740, while the top 10% earned more than $123,040. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,740 | $14.30 |
| 25th | $58,210 | $27.99 |
| Median | $79,020 | $37.99 |
| 75th | $111,620 | $53.66 |
| 90th | $123,040 | $59.15 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.