Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Writer & Author salary in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$86,340
Median annual
$41.51
Median hourly
$94,260
Mean annual
30
Employed
The median annual wage for writers and authors in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA was $86,340 in May 2025, with an average of $94,260. About 30 people work in this occupation there.
That is 12% above the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA (median $50,770), writers earn 70% more.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $51,310, while the top 10% earned more than $127,810. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $51,310 | $24.67 |
| 25th | $68,790 | $33.07 |
| Median | $86,340 | $41.51 |
| 75th | $101,820 | $48.95 |
| 90th | $127,810 | $61.45 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.