Writers and Authors — Salary by State

Median annual wages across 46 states, from BLS data.

National Median

$72,270

Highest

$121,160

District of Columbia

Lowest

$43,450

Kentucky

Total Employment

39,520

Salary by State

#	State	Median Salary	Employment	vs. National
1	District of Columbia	$121,160	1,240	+67.6%
2	Maryland	$107,540	620	+48.8%
3	Washington	$86,170	900	+19.2%
4	Vermont	$86,040	60	+19.1%
5	Virginia	$80,990	1,630	+12.1%
6	Connecticut	$80,950	640	+12.0%
7	California	$80,470	8,950	+11.3%
8	Massachusetts	$78,440	1,260	+8.5%
9	Oregon	$77,830	850	+7.7%
10	New Jersey	$75,640	1,610	+4.7%
11	New Mexico	$73,790	60	+2.1%
12	Texas	$71,650	2,100	-0.9%
13	Louisiana	$70,810	380	-2.0%
14	Ohio	$67,580	960	-6.5%
15	West Virginia	$66,970	100	-7.3%
16	Illinois	$66,180	2,010	-8.4%
17	Minnesota	$65,900	980	-8.8%
18	Florida	$65,830	2,440	-8.9%
19	Idaho	$65,450	100	-9.4%
20	Maine	$65,000	0	-10.1%
21	Nebraska	$64,150	200	-11.2%
22	Georgia	$64,070	1,200	-11.3%
23	North Carolina	$63,720	2,170	-11.8%
24	Arizona	$62,640	580	-13.3%
25	Wisconsin	$62,450	620	-13.6%
26	Indiana	$62,080	510	-14.1%
27	Michigan	$61,800	860	-14.5%
28	Utah	$61,020	630	-15.6%
29	New Hampshire	$60,690	230	-16.0%
30	Montana	$59,990	90	-17.0%
31	Rhode Island	$59,550	200	-17.6%
32	Kansas	$59,440	190	-17.8%
33	Missouri	$59,040	550	-18.3%
34	South Dakota	$58,740	40	-18.7%
35	Tennessee	$58,620	1,220	-18.9%
36	Pennsylvania	$58,170	1,360	-19.5%
37	Delaware	$57,310	40	-20.7%
38	Alabama	$57,120	170	-21.0%
39	Iowa	$54,990	280	-23.9%
40	Oklahoma	$52,720	0	-27.1%
41	Nevada	$52,700	200	-27.1%
42	North Dakota	$51,970	70	-28.1%
43	South Carolina	$51,850	470	-28.3%
44	Mississippi	$51,230	130	-29.1%
45	Arkansas	$46,490	280	-35.7%
46	Kentucky	$43,450	340	-39.9%