SOC 27-3043 · Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations

Writers and Authors

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries

U.S. median annual wage$76,910

U.S. median hourly wage$36.98

U.S. employment47,940

Nationally, writers and authors earned a median of $76,910 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 47,940 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.

National pay distribution

Pay by state

Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.

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Writers and Authors: pay and employment by state
State
District of Columbia	$129,300	$62.16	1,050	1.5
Maryland	$104,330	$50.16	540	0.2
Connecticut	$98,460	$47.34	480	0.3
Vermont	$94,430	$45.40	110	0.4
Louisiana	$89,520	$43.04	480	0.3
California	$86,480	$41.58	8,390	0.5
Washington	$85,700	$41.20	770	0.2
Massachusetts	$85,260	$40.99	1,350	0.4
Virginia	$85,000	$40.87	1,530	0.4
New Jersey	$81,590	$39.23	1,180	0.3
Oregon	$80,540	$38.72	950	0.5
Pennsylvania	$77,410	$37.22	1,080	0.2
Colorado	$76,830	$36.94	1,300	0.5
Indiana	$75,820	$36.45	450	0.1
Georgia	$74,710	$35.92	820	0.2
Minnesota	$72,810	$35.01	720	0.2
New Hampshire	$71,830	$34.53	180	0.3
Rhode Island	$70,190	$33.75	110	0.2
Texas	$69,990	$33.65	2,320	0.2
Illinois	$68,220	$32.80	2,640	0.4
Florida	$68,080	$32.73	3,010	0.3
Alabama	$66,950	$32.19	180	0.1
Ohio	$65,930	$31.70	830	0.2
Kansas	$65,840	$31.65	240	0.2
Nebraska	$65,470	$31.47	240	0.2
Utah	$64,530	$31.02	410	0.2
West Virginia	$64,410	$30.97	110	0.2
Wisconsin	$64,370	$30.95	710	0.2
Nevada	$63,910	$30.73	190	0.1
North Carolina	$63,660	$30.60	1,810	0.4
Iowa	$61,010	$29.33	290	0.2
Tennessee	$58,870	$28.30	1,260	0.4
Oklahoma	$58,770	$28.26	220	0.1
Missouri	$58,140	$27.95	600	0.2
South Dakota	$56,700	$27.26	60	0.1
Idaho	$56,360	$27.10	90	0.1
Arizona	$55,990	$26.92	600	0.2
Mississippi	$54,180	$26.05	130	0.1
South Carolina	$51,920	$24.96	520	0.2
North Dakota	$50,860	$24.45	80	0.2
Wyoming	$49,650	$23.87	Not published	Not published
Kentucky	$48,780	$23.45	350	0.2
Arkansas	$47,970	$23.06	270	0.2
Puerto Rico	$43,440	$20.89	90	0.1
Hawaii	Not published	Not published	60	0.1
Maine	Not published	Not published	200	0.3
Montana	Not published	Not published	90	0.2
New Mexico	Not published	Not published	90	0.1
New York	Not published	Not published	7,480	0.8

Pay by metro area

All 139 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.

Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.

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Writers and Authors: pay and employment by metro area
Metro area
Waterbury-Shelton, CT	$127,350	$61.23	50	0.3
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$118,810	$57.12	400	0.4
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$108,460	$52.14	2,060	0.7
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$107,700	$51.78	50	0.2
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$103,060	$49.55	150	0.4
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO	$102,570	$49.31	Not published	Not published
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$98,730	$47.47	520	0.2
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$97,160	$46.71	140	0.2
New Haven, CT	$94,410	$45.39	60	0.2
Trenton-Princeton, NJ	$90,060	$43.30	110	0.5
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$87,560	$42.10	600	0.5
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$87,020	$41.84	240	0.2
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	$86,340	$41.51	30	0.3
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$85,260	$40.99	1,130	0.4
Burlington-South Burlington, VT	$85,020	$40.87	40	0.3
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT	$84,940	$40.84	40	0.3
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$84,130	$40.45	130	0.4
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$84,130	$40.45	560	0.2
Colorado Springs, CO	$83,770	$40.27	130	0.4
Boulder, CO	$83,540	$40.16	130	0.7
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$82,920	$39.87	70	0.2
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$82,690	$39.76	240	0.2
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$82,590	$39.71	350	0.2
Greeley, CO	$82,060	$39.45	40	0.4
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$81,990	$39.42	490	0.2
Worcester, MA	$80,490	$38.70	80	0.2
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	$79,020	$37.99	120	0.3
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$78,990	$37.98	190	0.1
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$78,050	$37.52	90	0.2
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	$78,000	$37.50	130	0.3
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	$77,740	$37.37	50	0.2
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$77,250	$37.14	Not published	Not published
Fresno, CA	$77,060	$37.05	70	0.1
Charlottesville, VA	$76,990	$37.01	70	0.6
Montgomery, AL	$76,710	$36.88	30	0.2
Columbus, OH	$76,490	$36.77	240	0.2
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$76,470	$36.76	570	0.3
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$76,390	$36.73	210	0.3
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$76,120	$36.60	400	0.1
Baton Rouge, LA	$76,000	$36.54	90	0.2
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$75,940	$36.51	2,120	0.5
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$75,760	$36.42	510	0.3
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$75,380	$36.24	420	0.3
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$74,820	$35.97	40	0.2
Richmond, VA	$74,300	$35.72	230	0.3
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$74,030	$35.59	130	0.1
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$73,600	$35.38	40	0.1
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$73,460	$35.32	160	0.2
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL	$73,440	$35.31	40	0.2
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$72,560	$34.88	400	0.3
Tallahassee, FL	$72,400	$34.81	70	0.4
Charleston, WV	$72,340	$34.78	30	0.3
Syracuse, NY	$71,520	$34.39	50	0.2
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$70,620	$33.95	120	0.2
Asheville, NC	$70,280	$33.79	90	0.5
Glens Falls, NY	$69,320	$33.33	30	0.7
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$69,100	$33.22	860	0.5
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$69,100	$33.22	360	0.5
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	$68,880	$33.11	390	0.3
Madison, WI	$68,760	$33.06	150	0.4
Rochester, NY	$68,600	$32.98	110	0.2
Savannah, GA	$68,030	$32.71	40	0.2
Omaha, NE-IA	$67,390	$32.40	120	0.2
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	$67,280	$32.35	150	0.1
Kansas City, MO-KS	$67,230	$32.32	220	0.2
Medford, OR	$66,690	$32.06	40	0.4
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$66,470	$31.96	1,270	0.5
Lancaster, PA	$65,660	$31.57	50	0.2
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$65,630	$31.55	90	0.2
Amherst Town-Northampton, MA	$65,290	$31.39	50	0.7
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	$64,900	$31.20	50	0.2
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	$64,690	$31.10	60	0.2
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$64,520	$31.02	850	0.2
Birmingham, AL	$64,460	$30.99	70	0.1
Oklahoma City, OK	$64,100	$30.82	Not published	Not published
Manchester-Nashua, NH	$64,010	$30.77	50	0.3
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$63,910	$30.73	270	0.3
Tulsa, OK	$63,780	$30.66	50	0.1
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$63,720	$30.64	420	0.3
Fort Wayne, IN	$63,640	$30.60	50	0.2
Greensboro-High Point, NC	$63,270	$30.42	100	0.3
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$63,270	$30.42	520	0.5
Toledo, OH	$63,090	$30.33	30	0.1
Knoxville, TN	$63,080	$30.33	180	0.4
Columbia, MO	$63,030	$30.30	40	0.4
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$63,010	$30.29	90	0.2
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$62,440	$30.02	170	0.2
Cedar Rapids, IA	$62,110	$29.86	40	0.3
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	$62,060	$29.84	140	0.5
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	$62,060	$29.84	60	0.2
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	$61,980	$29.80	30	0.1
Boise City, ID	$61,650	$29.64	40	0.1
Green Bay, WI	$61,500	$29.57	40	0.2
Winston-Salem, NC	$61,460	$29.55	50	0.2
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$61,400	$29.52	110	0.4
Cleveland, OH	$60,880	$29.27	170	0.2
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ	$60,700	$29.18	50	0.3
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL	$60,640	$29.16	60	0.2
Lincoln, NE	$60,200	$28.94	60	0.3
Akron, OH	$59,900	$28.80	40	0.1
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$58,870	$28.31	420	0.2
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$58,480	$28.12	170	0.3
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA	$57,600	$27.69	40	0.3
St. Louis, MO-IL	$57,390	$27.59	300	0.2
Jacksonville, FL	$56,760	$27.29	Not published	Not published
Bend, OR	$55,930	$26.89	50	0.5
Albuquerque, NM	$53,490	$25.72	60	0.1
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$52,520	$25.25	130	0.2
Topeka, KS	$51,610	$24.81	Not published	Not published
Springfield, MO	$51,260	$24.65	30	0.1
Lexington-Fayette, KY	$51,170	$24.60	50	0.2
Fargo, ND-MN	$50,860	$24.45	40	0.3
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	$50,720	$24.38	80	0.3
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	$49,980	$24.03	130	0.3
Iowa City, IA	$49,000	$23.56	50	0.5
Tucson, AZ	$47,990	$23.07	80	0.2
Wilmington, NC	$47,940	$23.05	180	1.0
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	$47,300	$22.74	40	0.2
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	$47,210	$22.70	100	0.3
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR	$44,300	$21.30	80	0.1
Columbia, SC	$41,600	$20.00	Not published	Not published
Ann Arbor, MI	$37,330	$17.95	190	0.9
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	Not published	Not published	60	0.2
Eugene-Springfield, OR	Not published	Not published	70	0.4
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	Not published	Not published	210	0.2
Kingston, NY	Not published	Not published	60	1.0
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY	Not published	Not published	70	0.3
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	Not published	Not published	50	0.2
Missoula, MT	Not published	Not published	30	0.5
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	Not published	Not published	7,220	0.8
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	Not published	Not published	40	0.2
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL	Not published	Not published	30	0.2
Pittsburgh, PA	Not published	Not published	180	0.2
Portland-South Portland, ME	Not published	Not published	90	0.3
Salem, OR	Not published	Not published	50	0.3
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	Not published	Not published	1,560	0.7
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA	Not published	Not published	70	0.7
Springfield, MA	Not published	Not published	30	0.2
Urban Honolulu, HI	Not published	Not published	50	0.1

About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.