How much does a writer and author make in San Jose?
$118,800a year
Median yearly pay for writer and authors in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area. That is $57.12 an hour or $9,901 a month.
- Hourly
- $57.12
- Vs. national median
- +54%
- Rank among cities
- 2 of 122
- Jobs in the area
- 400
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $62,680Median: $118,800Highest 10%: $177,000
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $62,680 | $30.13 | |
| 25th | $85,700 | $41.20 | |
| Median | $118,800 | $57.12 | |
| 75th | $159,400 | $76.64 | |
| 90th | $177,000 | $85.09 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for writer and authors.
| Santa Rosa, CA | $107,700 |
| Oxnard, CA | $82,920 |
| Sacramento, CA | $82,690 |
| San Diego, CA | $82,590 |
| Riverside, CA | $78,990 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $77,250 |
| Fresno, CA | $77,060 |
Related jobs in San Jose
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Art Director | $170,100 |
| Special Effects Artist and Animator | $157,000 |
| Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner | $143,200 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designer | $141,300 |
| Technical Writer | $140,700 |
| Designer | $129,100 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $117,600 |
| Editor | $117,600 |
| Musician and Singer | $102,900 |
| Interpreter and Translator | $101,500 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a writer and author make an hour in San Jose?
The median hourly pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $57.12 ($118,800 a year).
Do writer and authors make more in San Jose than the national average?
Yes: $118,800 against $76,910 nationally, 54% more.
How does San Jose compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $86,480, so San Jose pays 37% more.
Where does San Jose rank for writer and author pay?
2 of 122 metro areas with data.
How much does a writer and author make starting out in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% make $62,680 or less a year; the top 10% make $177,000 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.