Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Writer & Author salary in Rhode Island
$70,190
Median annual
$33.75
Median hourly
$82,940
Mean annual
110
Employed
In Rhode Island, a typical writer earned $70,190 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $82,940. About 110 people work in this occupation there.
That is 9% below the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in Rhode Island (median $56,780), writers earn 24% more. Its location quotient of 0.74 means the job is less common here than nationally.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $42,060, while the top 10% earned more than $130,000. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $42,060 | $20.22 |
| 25th | $56,180 | $27.01 |
| Median | $70,190 | $33.75 |
| 75th | $84,170 | $40.47 |
| 90th | $130,000 | $62.50 |
Metro areas in Rhode Island
| Metro area | Median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $70,620 | 120 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.