How much does a writer and author make in San Diego?
$82,590a year
Median yearly pay for writer and authors in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $39.71 an hour or $6,883 a month.
- Hourly
- $39.71
- Vs. national median
- +7%
- Rank among cities
- 23 of 122
- Jobs in the area
- 350
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $44,460Median: $82,590Highest 10%: $163,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,460 | $21.38 | |
| 25th | $63,330 | $30.45 | |
| Median | $82,590 | $39.71 | |
| 75th | $110,800 | $53.26 | |
| 90th | $163,800 | $78.76 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for writer and authors.
| San Jose, CA | $118,800 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $107,700 |
| Oxnard, CA | $82,920 |
| Sacramento, CA | $82,690 |
| Riverside, CA | $78,990 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $77,250 |
| Fresno, CA | $77,060 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Art Director | $126,100 |
| Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner | $123,200 |
| Special Effects Artist and Animator | $118,800 |
| Musician and Singer | $106,400 |
| Technical Writer | $101,800 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designer | $99,650 |
| Producer and Director | $99,520 |
| Media and Communication Worker | $85,180 |
| Film and Video Editor | $83,480 |
| Fashion Designer | $82,010 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a writer and author make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $39.71 ($82,590 a year).
Do writer and authors make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $82,590 against $76,910 nationally, 7% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $86,480, so San Diego pays 4% less.
Where does San Diego rank for writer and author pay?
23 of 122 metro areas with data.
How much does a writer and author make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $44,460 or less a year; the top 10% make $163,800 or more.
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.