Writer earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level writer earnings begin at:

$28.60 per hour

$59,500 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level writer earnings begin at:

$22.34 per hour

$46,460 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level writer earnings begin at:

$17.52 per hour

$36,430 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level writer earnings begin at:

$14.40 per hour

$29,950 per year

10th percentile

Starting level writer earnings begin at:

$12.51 per hour

$26,010 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 about the same as related careers in Puerto Rico. On average, they make less than technical writers.

Career Median Salary
Technical writer salary $38K
Copywriter salary $36K
Television writer salary $36K
Writer salary $36K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)