At a glance
Median pay for Writers and Authors runs from $41,600 in Columbia to $118,810 in San Jose across 68 curated metros; the middle value is $69,100.
After the BEA 2024 price adjustment, the top three are San Jose ($107,595), Washington ($99,611), Bridgeport ($96,440).
These are workforce estimates from published medians, not job offers or expected hiring pay.
Sources: BLS wages (May 2025) · BEA price parity (2024) · Census ACS (2020–2024) · metro areas, not city limits · How we calculate
Writers and Authors salary comparison
Writer pay varies widely between staff, copywriting and freelance work, and the BLS figures exclude self-employment earnings. A metro median is a limited guide for freelancers. 68 of 75 curated metros have a reported occupation median. The table is sorted by the site-calculated adjusted metric, not by predicted hiring demand.
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| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Adjusted median* | Median gross rent / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $118,810 | $107,595 | $2,840 |
| Washington, DC–VA–MD–WV | $108,460 | $99,611 | $2,027 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $103,060 | $96,440 | $1,875 |
| Hartford, CT | $97,160 | $94,563 | $1,416 |
| Seattle, WA | $98,730 | $88,839 | $2,000 |
| Durham, NC | $84,130 | $86,224 | $1,466 |
| New Orleans, LA | $79,020 | $85,338 | $1,217 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $76,000 | $83,719 | $1,135 |
| Baltimore, MD | $87,020 | $83,283 | $1,611 |
| Portland, OR–WA | $87,560 | $83,057 | $1,724 |
| Philadelphia, PA–NJ–DE–MD | $84,130 | $82,035 | $1,480 |
| Atlanta, GA | $81,990 | $81,942 | $1,672 |
| Columbus, OH | $76,490 | $80,120 | $1,274 |
| Boston, MA–NH | $85,260 | $78,750 | $2,023 |
| Worcester, MA | $80,490 | $78,509 | $1,426 |
| Albany, NY | $78,050 | $78,390 | $1,280 |
| San Antonio, TX | $74,030 | $78,160 | $1,363 |
| Sacramento, CA | $82,690 | $77,519 | $1,819 |
| Charleston, SC | $78,000 | $77,257 | $1,605 |
| Houston, TX | $76,120 | $77,178 | $1,430 |
Show all 68 metros with a reported median
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| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Adjusted median* | Median gross rent / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $118,810 | $107,595 | $2,840 |
| Washington, DC–VA–MD–WV | $108,460 | $99,611 | $2,027 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $103,060 | $96,440 | $1,875 |
| Hartford, CT | $97,160 | $94,563 | $1,416 |
| Seattle, WA | $98,730 | $88,839 | $2,000 |
| Durham, NC | $84,130 | $86,224 | $1,466 |
| New Orleans, LA | $79,020 | $85,338 | $1,217 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $76,000 | $83,719 | $1,135 |
| Baltimore, MD | $87,020 | $83,283 | $1,611 |
| Portland, OR–WA | $87,560 | $83,057 | $1,724 |
| Philadelphia, PA–NJ–DE–MD | $84,130 | $82,035 | $1,480 |
| Atlanta, GA | $81,990 | $81,942 | $1,672 |
| Columbus, OH | $76,490 | $80,120 | $1,274 |
| Boston, MA–NH | $85,260 | $78,750 | $2,023 |
| Worcester, MA | $80,490 | $78,509 | $1,426 |
| Albany, NY | $78,050 | $78,390 | $1,280 |
| San Antonio, TX | $74,030 | $78,160 | $1,363 |
| Sacramento, CA | $82,690 | $77,519 | $1,819 |
| Charleston, SC | $78,000 | $77,257 | $1,605 |
| Houston, TX | $76,120 | $77,178 | $1,430 |
| Austin, TX | $75,380 | $76,867 | $1,726 |
| Richmond, VA | $74,300 | $75,926 | $1,447 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $76,390 | $75,733 | $1,583 |
| Detroit, MI | $75,760 | $75,535 | $1,207 |
| Fresno, CA | $77,060 | $75,432 | $1,392 |
| Virginia Beach, VA–NC | $73,460 | $75,004 | $1,478 |
| Riverside, CA | $78,990 | $74,209 | $1,846 |
| San Diego, CA | $82,590 | $73,816 | $2,246 |
| Omaha, NE–IA | $67,390 | $73,321 | $1,192 |
| Chicago, IL–IN | $75,940 | $73,305 | $1,430 |
| Minneapolis, MN–WI | $76,470 | $72,952 | $1,440 |
| Kansas City, MO–KS | $67,230 | $72,647 | $1,249 |
| Tampa, FL | $72,560 | $71,920 | $1,628 |
| Tulsa, OK | $63,780 | $71,491 | $1,078 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $64,100 | $70,901 | $1,124 |
| Rochester, NY | $68,600 | $70,696 | $1,143 |
| Madison, WI | $68,760 | $70,677 | $1,354 |
| Raleigh, NC | $69,100 | $70,397 | $1,573 |
| Birmingham, AL | $64,460 | $70,337 | $1,172 |
| Dayton, OH | $64,690 | $69,789 | $1,039 |
| Providence, RI–MA | $70,620 | $69,390 | $1,307 |
| Des Moines, IA | $63,010 | $68,712 | $1,150 |
| Buffalo, NY | $65,630 | $68,476 | $1,057 |
| Knoxville, TN | $63,080 | $68,144 | $1,145 |
| Greensboro, NC | $63,270 | $68,131 | $1,093 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $77,250 | $68,022 | $2,063 |
| Orlando, FL | $68,880 | $67,917 | $1,760 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $67,280 | $67,136 | $1,626 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $63,910 | $65,929 | $1,139 |
| Nashville, TN | $63,270 | $65,675 | $1,528 |
| Cincinnati, OH–KY–IN | $62,440 | $65,471 | $1,105 |
| Charlotte, NC–SC | $63,720 | $65,456 | $1,473 |
| Denver, CO | $69,100 | $65,323 | $1,874 |
| Cleveland, OH | $60,880 | $64,819 | $1,050 |
| Memphis, TN–MS–AR | $58,480 | $63,442 | $1,220 |
| Boise City, ID | $61,650 | $62,658 | $1,487 |
| Dallas, TX | $64,520 | $62,586 | $1,614 |
| St. Louis, MO–IL | $57,390 | $60,355 | $1,113 |
| North Port, FL | $60,640 | $59,209 | $1,747 |
| Miami, FL | $66,470 | $58,228 | $1,869 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $56,760 | $57,054 | $1,513 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $58,870 | $56,981 | $1,702 |
| Louisville, KY–IN | $52,520 | $56,428 | $1,116 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $53,490 | $55,984 | $1,156 |
| Greenville, SC | $49,980 | $53,592 | $1,150 |
| Little Rock, AR | $47,210 | $52,829 | $1,055 |
| Tucson, AZ | $47,990 | $49,527 | $1,212 |
| Columbia, SC | $41,600 | $44,415 | $1,193 |
The table shows the 20 highest adjusted medians; the full list of 68 metros is expandable above. The price-adjusted wage equals the BLS May 2025 annual occupational median × 100 ÷ the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. Census rent, household income and commuting figures are ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. They describe different populations and do not determine take-home pay, employment prospects or individual rent. ACS gross rent includes contract rent plus estimated utility and fuel costs.
How pay for Writers and Authors varies across metros
Across the 68 curated metros with a reported median, the nominal annual median for Writers and Authors runs from $41,600 in Columbia to $118,810 in San Jose, a 2.86× difference. After dividing each median by its metro’s BEA price parity, the range is $44,415 in Columbia to $107,595 in San Jose, a 2.42× difference. The middle value across these metros is $69,100 nominal and $71,196 adjusted.
The price adjustment changes the order. Out of 68 metros, Baton Rouge moves from 25th on nominal pay to 8th on adjusted pay while Los Angeles moves from 19th to 46th. These ranks compare published medians only, not openings or offers.
Beyond the median: published wage percentiles
The following six metros lead this curated set on the price-adjusted median measure. The five annual wage statistics are the original BLS estimates; they have not been price-adjusted. They illustrate the estimated wage distribution for the same occupation and geographic unit.
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| Metropolitan area | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $62,680 | $85,700 | $118,810 | $159,420 | $176,980 |
| Washington, DC–VA–MD–WV | $69,090 | $83,200 | $108,460 | $145,680 | $171,410 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $46,720 | $78,740 | $103,060 | $142,830 | $160,000 |
| Hartford, CT | $51,680 | $68,650 | $97,160 | $112,130 | $145,640 |
| Seattle, WA | $60,540 | $79,610 | $98,730 | $119,030 | $136,720 |
| Durham, NC | $47,980 | $63,370 | $84,130 | $96,610 | $117,890 |
Percentiles describe a distribution, not an individual’s pay; suppressed values are marked Unavailable.
National career outlook and entry requirements
The BLS projects national employment for Writers and authors from 2025 to 2035. These occupational projections are national; they do not forecast openings in any particular metro area.
Among the 80 occupations curated on this site, projected 2025–2035 growth of -0.3% ranks 68th (the middle value is +5.0%), and about 11,900 projected annual openings rank 66th. This compares only the occupations on this site and does not predict hiring in any one metro.
The BLS lists no related work experience as typically required for entry. Its typical training category is long-term on-the-job training. National employment base: 140,300 workers in 2025; projected 139,900 in 2035.
Openings are projected national totals, including replacements, not job ads or local vacancies. Education and training categories are typical patterns; licensing varies by role. BLS 2025–2035 Occupational Projections, Table 1.2. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
What to check for this occupation before moving
How roles can differ: Writers and authors include staff writers, copywriters and content creators, and many work freelance. These BLS figures cover wage-and-salary jobs, so they leave out most self-employed income.
Questions to ask about a real offer: Ask whether the role is staff or contract, how much content is expected and who owns the rights to your work. For a freelance offer, compare the rate against your own benefits and taxes.
This is editorial guidance, not a claim that every employer or state follows these practices; verify terms with the employer and relevant authorities.
What this occupation median does—and does not—tell you
BLS OEWS wages are employer-reported estimates for wage-and-salary jobs, so self-employment income is not included. Annual figures assume a 2,080-hour year. Wages include commissions and tips but exclude overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. A median is neither a new-hire salary nor a vacancy count.
Regional price parities compare overall price levels with the U.S. average; housing data come from a different survey and are not subtracted again from the wage. Missing wages and suppressed percentiles stay unavailable. See the methodology for details.
Salary for Writers and Authors in Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix is shown as a worked example (one of the larger metros on this site); it is not a recommendation, and the table above lists every metro with a reported median. Of 68 metros, it ranks 59th on nominal median and 62nd on price-adjusted median.
For the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro, the May 2025 BLS annual occupational median is $58,870. The published 25th-to-75th-percentile wage interval is $49,440 to $76,270. The price-adjusted median of $56,981 applies the BEA 2024 all-items index of 103.3 (U.S. = 100). It does not reflect an employer offer, taxes or your individual household costs.
The ACS metro-wide gross-rent median is $1,702 per month; with an ACS margin of error of ±$8. Gross rent includes estimated utilities and covers renters generally, not workers in this occupation. For a data-driven contrast, Jacksonville has a published BLS median of $56,760 and adjusted median of $57,054. This comparison metro has the closest observed adjusted median in our curated set. This does not establish similar rents or local job conditions. Compare Phoenix with Jacksonville in the interactive tool, or review the Phoenix metro profile for income, housing uncertainty and commute context.
Before relying on a quoted salary, confirm that the job matches this BLS occupation and that pay period, hours and benefits are comparable.