Outpaid

Writers and Authors salary

The BLS estimates 47,940 Writers and Authors jobs in the U.S. with a median base pay of $76,910 (May 2025, SOC 27-3043). Across 30 metros with published figures, medians range from $57,390 in St. Louis, MO-IL to $118,810 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA.

WRITERS AND AUTHORS · UNITED STATES · BLS
BLS · UNITED STATES · ALL EMPLOYERS, ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS
P10$44,310P25$58,230MEDIAN$76,910P75$101,950P90$139,870
30 SECONDS · NO SIGNUP · ON-DEVICE

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HIGHEST-PAYING METROS

  1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$118,810 · 400 jobs
  2. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$108,460 · 2,060 jobs
  3. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$98,730 · 520 jobs
  4. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$87,560 · 600 jobs
  5. Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$87,020 · 240 jobs
  6. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$85,260 · 1,130 jobs
  7. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$84,130 · 560 jobs
  8. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$82,690 · 240 jobs
  9. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$82,590 · 350 jobs
  10. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA$81,990 · 490 jobs

LARGEST METROS

  1. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$75,940 · 2,120 jobs
  2. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$108,460 · 2,060 jobs
  3. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL$66,470 · 1,270 jobs
  4. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$85,260 · 1,130 jobs
  5. Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$69,100 · 860 jobs
  6. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$64,520 · 850 jobs
  7. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$87,560 · 600 jobs
  8. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$76,470 · 570 jobs
  9. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$84,130 · 560 jobs
  10. Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN$63,270 · 520 jobs

ALL METROS (A–Z)

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH · Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN · Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

Questions

What is the median Writers and Authors salary in the U.S.?

$76,910 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half earn $58,230–$101,950.

Where do Writers and Authors earn the most?

Highest metro medians: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($118,810), Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($108,460), Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($98,730). Cost of living differs, so compare offers locally.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025 (metro, state and national estimates). Employer filing counts: U.S. DOL OFLC LCA disclosure data FY2026 Q3, visa-sponsored positions only.