Writer & Author salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
The median annual wage for writers and authors in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA was $98,730 in May 2025, with an average of $98,430. About 520 people work in this occupation there.
That is 28% above the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (median $72,610), writers earn 36% more. Its location quotient of 0.80 means the job is less common here than nationally.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $60,540, while the top 10% earned more than $136,720. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $60,540 | $29.11 |
| 25th | $79,610 | $38.28 |
| Median | $98,730 | $47.47 |
| 75th | $119,030 | $57.22 |
| 90th | $136,720 | $65.73 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.