SOC 27-3043 · May 2025
Writer Salary
Writers in the US earn a median of $76,910 a year ($41.39 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Writer pay climbed from $73,860 in 2019 to $86,090 in 2025, a +16.6% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$76,910
Half of all Writers in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+16.6% since 2019 · +0.4% YoY
Hourly
$41.39
Job growth 2025-35
-0.3%
US workers
47,940
BLS series
Annual median wage for Writers and Authors in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Writers is $44,310 – $139,870.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$44,310
25th
$58,230
Median
$76,910
75th
$101,950
90th
$139,870
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Writers. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $44,310 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $58,230 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $76,910 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $101,950 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $139,870 |
Geography
Writer pay by state
Writers earn the most in D.C. ($129,300, +68% against the national median) and the least in Arkansas ($47,970). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 43 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$76,910
Highest-paying states for writers
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| D.C. | $129,300 | +68% | 1,050 |
| Maryland | $104,330 | +36% | 540 |
| Connecticut | $98,460 | +28% | 480 |
| Vermont | $94,430 | +23% | 110 |
| Louisiana | $89,520 | +16% | 480 |
| California | $86,480 | +12% | 8,390 |
| Washington | $85,700 | +11% | 770 |
| Massachusetts | $85,260 | +11% | 1,350 |
| Virginia | $85,000 | +11% | 1,530 |
| New Jersey | $81,590 | +6% | 1,180 |
All 43 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| D.C. | $129,300 | 1,050 |
| Maryland | $104,330 | 540 |
| Connecticut | $98,460 | 480 |
| Vermont | $94,430 | 110 |
| Louisiana | $89,520 | 480 |
| California | $86,480 | 8,390 |
| Washington | $85,700 | 770 |
| Massachusetts | $85,260 | 1,350 |
| Virginia | $85,000 | 1,530 |
| New Jersey | $81,590 | 1,180 |
| Oregon | $80,540 | 950 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,410 | 1,080 |
| Colorado | $76,830 | 1,300 |
| Indiana | $75,820 | 450 |
| Georgia | $74,710 | 820 |
| Minnesota | $72,810 | 720 |
| New Hampshire | $71,830 | 180 |
| Rhode Island | $70,190 | 110 |
| Texas | $69,990 | 2,320 |
| Illinois | $68,220 | 2,640 |
| Florida | $68,080 | 3,010 |
| Alabama | $66,950 | 180 |
| Ohio | $65,930 | 830 |
| Kansas | $65,840 | 240 |
| Nebraska | $65,470 | 240 |
| Utah | $64,530 | 410 |
| West Virginia | $64,410 | 110 |
| Wisconsin | $64,370 | 710 |
| Nevada | $63,910 | 190 |
| North Carolina | $63,660 | 1,810 |
| Iowa | $61,010 | 290 |
| Tennessee | $58,870 | 1,260 |
| Oklahoma | $58,770 | 220 |
| Missouri | $58,140 | 600 |
| South Dakota | $56,700 | 60 |
| Idaho | $56,360 | 90 |
| Arizona | $55,990 | 600 |
| Mississippi | $54,180 | 130 |
| South Carolina | $51,920 | 520 |
| North Dakota | $50,860 | 80 |
| Wyoming | $49,650 | – |
| Kentucky | $48,780 | 350 |
| Arkansas | $47,970 | 270 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Writers
Writers and authors (BLS SOC 27-3043) develop original written content for advertisements, books, magazines, screenplays, songs, and online publications. The role spans technical writing, copywriting, journalism, and creative writing. Industry varies pay dramatically: technology, finance, and pharmaceutical content roles substantially exceed OEWS figures; freelance and traditional-publishing writing often fall below.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $44,310 – $139,870. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are D.C., Maryland and Connecticut. Pay in D.C. runs 2.7 times the level in Arkansas, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as bachelor's degree, and projects about 11,900 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to shrink 0.3% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Writer salary in the US?
How much does a Writer make an hour?
How much do Writers make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Writers the most?
Is the average Writer salary higher than the median?
Is Writer a growing career?
Open positions
Open Writer roles hiring now
Browse current Writer listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 27-3043. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.