Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Writer & Author salary in Virginia
$85,000
Median annual
$40.87
Median hourly
$88,260
Mean annual
1,530
Employed
The median annual wage for writers and authors in Virginia was $85,000 in May 2025, with an average of $88,260. About 1,530 people work in this occupation there.
That is 11% above the national median of $76,910. Compared with all occupations in Virginia (median $55,690), writers earn 53% more. With a location quotient of 1.21, the occupation is more concentrated here than in the US as a whole.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $44,190, while the top 10% earned more than $131,040. Many writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,190 | $21.25 |
| 25th | $64,730 | $31.12 |
| Median | $85,000 | $40.87 |
| 75th | $104,000 | $50.00 |
| 90th | $131,040 | $63.00 |
Metro areas in Virginia
| Metro area | Median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville, VA | $76,990 | 70 |
| Richmond, VA | $74,300 | 230 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $73,460 | 160 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.