Writers and Authors
SOC 27-3043 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Writers and Authors is $73,690, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $87,590, and an estimated 49,450 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +9.8% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -6.7% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 3.6% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Writers and Authors has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $73,690 | $73,690 | 49,450 |
| 2022 | $73,150 | $76,161 | 54,010 |
| 2021 | $69,510 | $78,163 | 49,410 |
| 2020 | $67,120 | $79,021 | 44,240 |
Nominal change
+9.8%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-6.7%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+3.6%
Faster than average
Employment 2024
135,400
Projected 2034
140,300
Annual Openings
13,400
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Writers and Authors earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $73,690. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $98,570 | +33.8% | 7,540 |
| Maryland | $97,770 | +32.7% | 740 |
| California | $94,440 | +28.2% | 8,820 |
| District of Columbia | $94,290 | +28% | 1,280 |
| Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $88,340 | +19.9% | 30 |
| Oregon | $82,370 | +11.8% | 1,050 |
| Washington | $81,530 | +10.6% | 1,160 |
| Maine | $78,290 | +6.2% | 100 |
| Virginia | $76,940 | +4.4% | 1,920 |
| Colorado | $76,170 | +3.4% | — |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$40,900
25th Pct
$52,660
Median
$73,690
75th Pct
$100,990
90th Pct
$148,240
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pumpkin Insurance Services, Inc. | NY | 1 | $70,000 |
| Havas Worldwide San Francisco LLC | CA | 1 | $155,000 |
| SQUARESPACE, INC. | NY | 1 | $162,500 |
| Contentium LLC | CA | 1 | $96,346 |
| Volley Inc. | CA | 1 | $170,000 |
| The Weisscomm Group LTD | FL | 1 | $139,000 |
| Apple Inc. | CA | 1 | $208,750 |
| Law Office of Ross Yang, APC | CA | 1 | $61,651 |
| O B DESIGNS USA LLC | FL | 1 | $57,500 |
| Vox Media, LLC | NY | 1 | $78,888 |
| McCann Healthcare LLC | NY | 1 | $125,000 |
| ANOMALY PARTNERS LLC | NY | 1 | $130,000 |
| Adam & Eve Inc. | NY | 1 | $160,000 |
| Spin Master Inc. | NY | 1 | $70,000 |
| Wieden and Kennedy, Inc. | NY | 1 | $115,000 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
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