Writer & Author salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
In San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, a typical writer earned $82,590 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $101,560. About 350 people work in this occupation there.
That is 7% above the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (median $58,690), writers earn 41% more. Its location quotient of 0.74 means the job is less common here than nationally.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $44,460, while the top 10% earned more than $163,830. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,460 | $21.38 |
| 25th | $63,330 | $30.45 |
| Median | $82,590 | $39.71 |
| 75th | $110,780 | $53.26 |
| 90th | $163,830 | $78.77 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.