Writer & Author salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
The median annual wage for writers and authors in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA was $74,820 in May 2025, with an average of $84,700. About 40 people work in this occupation there.
That is 3% below the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA (median $51,690), writers earn 45% more. Its location quotient of 0.71 means the job is less common here than nationally.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $44,230, while the top 10% earned more than $139,240. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,230 | $21.26 |
| 25th | $51,730 | $24.87 |
| Median | $74,820 | $35.97 |
| 75th | $100,740 | $48.43 |
| 90th | $139,240 | $66.94 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.