Writer earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level writer earnings begin at:

$42.71 per hour

$88,850 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level writer earnings begin at:

$36.98 per hour

$76,920 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level writer earnings begin at:

$26.47 per hour

$55,050 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level writer earnings begin at:

$17.80 per hour

$37,020 per year

10th percentile

Starting level writer earnings begin at:

$13.95 per hour

$29,010 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Writer salary by state

State Name Average Salary
District of Columbia $80,790
New York $80,140
Maryland $79,730
Washington $79,140
Massachusetts $78,050
Illinois $76,920
Rhode Island $71,110
Connecticut $69,250
Virginia $64,770
Alaska $64,330
Hawaii $63,800
Nevada $63,530
Colorado $63,300
Delaware $62,840
Minnesota $62,840
Oregon $62,840
New Mexico $62,820
Georgia $62,680
Maine $62,560
New Jersey $61,930
New Hampshire $61,700
Nebraska $61,630
Michigan $61,060
Texas $60,790
Wyoming $60,460
Pennsylvania $60,360
Louisiana $59,890
Florida $59,820
Missouri $55,980
Kansas $55,050
Alabama $53,410
Kentucky $51,560
Vermont $50,790
Wisconsin $50,280
Ohio $50,040
Utah $50,040
South Dakota $49,800
North Dakota $49,600
Montana $49,410
Tennessee $49,380
Mississippi $49,070
Arizona $48,930
Idaho $48,890
Indiana $48,890
North Carolina $48,540
Iowa $48,500
South Carolina $47,040
West Virginia $41,720
Oklahoma $39,230
Arkansas $38,550
Puerto Rico $36,430
California $128,060

How do writer salaries compare to similar careers?

Writers earn 17% more than similar careers in Kansas. On average, they make less than editors but more than sports writers.

Career Median Salary
Editor salary $52K
Copywriter salary $55K
Writer salary $55K
Television writer salary $55K
Proofreader salary $37K
Sports writer salary $24K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)