Writer & Author salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
The median annual wage for writers and authors in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV was $108,460 in May 2025, with an average of $118,070. About 2,060 people work in this occupation there.
That is 41% above the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (median $71,060), writers earn 53% more. With a location quotient of 2.13, the occupation is more concentrated here than in the US as a whole.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $69,090, while the top 10% earned more than $171,410. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $69,090 | $33.22 |
| 25th | $83,200 | $40.00 |
| Median | $108,460 | $52.14 |
| 75th | $145,680 | $70.04 |
| 90th | $171,410 | $82.41 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.