Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Writer & Author salary in Rochester, NY
$68,600
Median annual
$32.98
Median hourly
$81,120
Mean annual
110
Employed
The median annual wage for writers and authors in Rochester, NY was $68,600 in May 2025, with an average of $81,120. About 110 people work in this occupation there.
That is 11% below the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in Rochester, NY (median $51,210), writers earn 34% more. Its location quotient of 0.73 means the job is less common here than nationally.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $43,040, while the top 10% earned more than $148,290. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $43,040 | $20.69 |
| 25th | $43,040 | $20.69 |
| Median | $68,600 | $32.98 |
| 75th | $92,150 | $44.30 |
| 90th | $148,290 | $71.30 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.