Writer earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level writer earnings begin at:

$41.13 per hour

$85,550 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level writer earnings begin at:

$30.66 per hour

$63,770 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level writer earnings begin at:

$26.05 per hour

$54,180 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level writer earnings begin at:

$20.00 per hour

$41,600 per year

10th percentile

Starting level writer earnings begin at:

$12.41 per hour

$25,820 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Writer salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Connecticut $98,460
Vermont $94,430
Louisiana $89,520
California $86,480
Washington $85,700
Massachusetts $85,260
Virginia $85,000
New Jersey $81,590
Oregon $80,540
New York $80,140
Pennsylvania $77,410
Colorado $76,830
Indiana $75,820
Georgia $74,710
Minnesota $72,810
New Hampshire $71,830
Rhode Island $70,190
Texas $69,990
Illinois $68,220
Florida $68,080
Alabama $66,950
Ohio $65,930
Kansas $65,840
Nebraska $65,470
Utah $64,530
West Virginia $64,410
Wisconsin $64,370
Alaska $64,330
Nevada $63,910
Hawaii $63,800
North Carolina $63,660
Delaware $62,840
New Mexico $62,820
Maine $62,560
Michigan $61,060
Iowa $61,010
Tennessee $58,870
Oklahoma $58,770
Missouri $58,140
South Dakota $56,700
Idaho $56,360
Arizona $55,990
Mississippi $54,180
South Carolina $51,920
North Dakota $50,860
Wyoming $49,650
Montana $49,410
Kentucky $48,780
Arkansas $47,970
Puerto Rico $36,430
District of Columbia $129,300
Maryland $104,330

How do writer salaries compare to similar careers?

Writers earn about the same as related careers in Mississippi. On average, they make less than editors but more than journalists.

Career Median Salary
Editor salary $54K
Copywriter salary $54K
Television writer salary $54K
Writer salary $54K
News anchor salary $45K
Journalist salary $45K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)