Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Writer & Author salary in Missouri
$58,140
Median annual
$27.95
Median hourly
$66,070
Mean annual
600
Employed
In Missouri, a typical writer earned $58,140 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $66,070. About 600 people work in this occupation there.
That is 24% below the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in Missouri (median $47,800), writers earn 22% 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 $42,000, while the top 10% earned more than $98,930. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $42,000 | $20.19 |
| 25th | $48,130 | $23.14 |
| Median | $58,140 | $27.95 |
| 75th | $77,570 | $37.29 |
| 90th | $98,930 | $47.56 |
Metro areas in Missouri
| Metro area | Median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $67,230 | 220 |
| Columbia, MO | $63,030 | 40 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $57,390 | 300 |
| Springfield, MO | $51,260 | 30 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.