Writer & Author salary in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
The median annual wage for writers and authors in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD was $84,130 in May 2025, with an average of $95,850. About 560 people work in this occupation there.
That is 9% above the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (median $54,310), writers earn 55% more. Its location quotient of 0.63 means the job is less common here than nationally.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $52,080, while the top 10% earned more than $182,160. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $52,080 | $25.04 |
| 25th | $60,320 | $29.00 |
| Median | $84,130 | $40.45 |
| 75th | $102,480 | $49.27 |
| 90th | $182,160 | $87.58 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.