Writer & Author salary in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
The median annual wage for writers and authors in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA was $107,700 in May 2025, with an average of $113,000. About 50 people work in this occupation there.
That is 40% above the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA (median $56,850), writers earn 89% 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 $43,430, while the top 10% earned more than $178,460. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $43,430 | $20.88 |
| 25th | $71,820 | $34.53 |
| Median | $107,700 | $51.78 |
| 75th | $161,930 | $77.85 |
| 90th | $178,460 | $85.80 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.