Writer & Author salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
In Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC, a typical writer earned $73,460 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $74,730. About 160 people work in this occupation there.
That is 4% below the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC (median $49,430), writers earn 49% more. Its location quotient of 0.67 means the job is less common here than nationally.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $40,570, while the top 10% earned more than $110,510. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,570 | $19.51 |
| 25th | $62,000 | $29.81 |
| Median | $73,460 | $35.32 |
| 75th | $83,920 | $40.34 |
| 90th | $110,510 | $53.13 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.