How much does a writer and author make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $36.98 an hour or $6,409 a month.
- Hourly
- $36.98
- Average (mean)
- $86,090
- Jobs
- 47,940
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,310 | $21.30 | |
| 25th | $58,230 | $28.00 | |
| Median | $76,910 | $36.98 | |
| 75th | $102,000 | $49.01 | |
| 90th | $139,900 | $67.25 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| District of Columbia | $129,300 |
| Maryland | $104,300 |
| Connecticut | $98,460 |
| Vermont | $94,430 |
| Louisiana | $89,520 |
| California | $86,480 |
| Washington | $85,700 |
| Massachusetts | $85,260 |
| Virginia | $85,000 |
| New Jersey | $81,590 |
| Oregon | $80,540 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,410 |
| Colorado | $76,830 |
| Indiana | $75,820 |
| Georgia | $74,710 |
| Minnesota | $72,810 |
| New Hampshire | $71,830 |
| Rhode Island | $70,190 |
| Texas | $69,990 |
| Illinois | $68,220 |
| Florida | $68,080 |
| Alabama | $66,950 |
| Ohio | $65,930 |
| Kansas | $65,840 |
| Nebraska | $65,470 |
| Utah | $64,530 |
| West Virginia | $64,410 |
| Wisconsin | $64,370 |
| Nevada | $63,910 |
| North Carolina | $63,660 |
| Iowa | $61,010 |
| Tennessee | $58,870 |
| Oklahoma | $58,770 |
| Missouri | $58,140 |
| South Dakota | $56,700 |
| Idaho | $56,360 |
| Arizona | $55,990 |
| Mississippi | $54,180 |
| South Carolina | $51,920 |
| North Dakota | $50,860 |
| Wyoming | $49,650 |
| Kentucky | $48,780 |
| Arkansas | $47,970 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Waterbury, CT | $127,400 |
| San Jose, CA | $118,800 |
| Washington, DC | $108,500 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $107,700 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $103,100 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $102,600 |
| Seattle, WA | $98,730 |
| Hartford, CT | $97,160 |
| New Haven, CT | $94,410 |
| Trenton, NJ | $90,060 |
| Portland, OR | $87,560 |
| Baltimore, MD | $87,020 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $86,340 |
| Boston, MA | $85,260 |
| Burlington, VT | $85,020 |
In other countries
Writer and Author belongs to the international group "Advertising and marketing professionals".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Broadcast Announcer and Radio Disc Jockey$47,340
- News Analyst$62,200
- Public Relations Specialist$74,750
- Editor$77,920
- Technical Writer$90,390
- Interpreter and Translator$60,170
- Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner$72,420
- Media and Communication Worker$73,620
Frequently asked questions
How much does a writer and author make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $36.98 ($76,910 a year).
How much does a writer and author make a month?
About $6,409 a month before tax, based on a median of $76,910 a year.
How much does a writer and author make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $44,310 or less a year ($21.30 an hour); the top 10% make $139,900 or more.
Which state pays writer and authors the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $129,300 a year, followed by Maryland ($104,300) and Connecticut ($98,460).
Which city pays writer and authors the most?
Waterbury-Shelton, CT, with a median of $127,400 a year.
How many writer and authors are there in the United States?
About 47,940 people work as writer and authors.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.