Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Writer & Author salary in South Dakota
$56,700
Median annual
$27.26
Median hourly
$57,230
Mean annual
60
Employed
The median annual wage for writers and authors in South Dakota was $56,700 in May 2025, with an average of $57,230. About 60 people work in this occupation there.
That is 26% below the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in South Dakota (median $47,080), writers earn 20% more. Its location quotient of 0.44 means the job is less common here than nationally.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $45,760, while the top 10% earned more than $68,890. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| 25th | $54,080 | $26.00 |
| Median | $56,700 | $27.26 |
| 75th | $59,710 | $28.71 |
| 90th | $68,890 | $33.12 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.