Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Writer & Author salary in Pennsylvania
$77,410
Median annual
$37.22
Median hourly
$90,060
Mean annual
1,080
Employed
In Pennsylvania, a typical writer earned $77,410 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $90,060. About 1,080 people work in this occupation there.
That is roughly in line with the national median. Compared with all occupations in Pennsylvania (median $49,690), writers earn 56% more. Its location quotient of 0.58 means the job is less common here than nationally.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $40,270, while the top 10% earned more than $178,490. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,270 | $19.36 |
| 25th | $54,030 | $25.98 |
| Median | $77,410 | $37.22 |
| 75th | $102,480 | $49.27 |
| 90th | $178,490 | $85.81 |
Metro areas in Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $84,130 | 560 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $77,740 | 50 |
| Lancaster, PA | $65,660 | 50 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.