Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Writer & Author salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$118,810
Median annual
$57.12
Median hourly
$120,540
Mean annual
400
Employed
The median annual wage for writers and authors in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA was $118,810 in May 2025, with an average of $120,540. About 400 people work in this occupation there.
That is 54% above the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (median $84,050), writers earn 41% more.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $62,680, while the top 10% earned more than $176,980. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $62,680 | $30.13 |
| 25th | $85,700 | $41.20 |
| Median | $118,810 | $57.12 |
| 75th | $159,420 | $76.65 |
| 90th | $176,980 | $85.09 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.