Writer & Author salary in Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
In Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA, a typical writer earned $82,920 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $102,320. About 70 people work in this occupation there.
That is 8% above the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA (median $52,510), writers earn 58% more. Its location quotient of 0.69 means the job is less common here than nationally.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $49,080, while the top 10% earned more than $187,630. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,080 | $23.60 |
| 25th | $68,850 | $33.10 |
| Median | $82,920 | $39.87 |
| 75th | $127,260 | $61.19 |
| 90th | $187,630 | $90.21 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.