Writers and Authors Salary in California (2025)
Official BLS OEWS data · May 2025 · 8,390 employed
Annual Mean
$106,560
$51.23/hr
Annual Median
$86,480
$41.58/hr
Bottom 10%
$56,730
$27.27/hr
Top 10%
$193,080
$92.83/hr
Location vs National Average
California
$106,560
Difference
+23.8% vs US avg
US National
$86,090
Salary Percentile Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual |
|---|---|
10th Percentile Bottom 10% | $56,730 |
25th Percentile Lower quarter | $75,530 |
50th PercentileMedian Median | $86,480 |
75th Percentile Upper quarter | $127,870 |
90th Percentile Top 10% | $193,080 |
Salary Distribution
Annual Salary Range
10th
$57K
25th
$76K
Median
$86K
75th
$128K
90th
$193K
California has a moderate number of Writers and Authors positions (approximately 8,390), reflecting steady demand in this occupation.
In California, Writers and Authors salaries range from $56,730 at the 10th percentile to $193,080 at the 90th percentile — a spread of $136,350 (158% of the median). This wide range suggests significant variation based on experience and employer in this area.
Top Paying Cities in California
Metro areas with highest Writers and Authors wages
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$120,540
per year
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$113,000
per year
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$102,320
per year
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$101,560
per year
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$98,070
per year
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$94,260
per year
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$92,290
per year
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$88,320
per year
How Writers and Authors Compares in California
The average Writers and Authors salary of $106,560 in California ranks above the national average of $86,090. There are approximately 8,390 Writers and Authorss employed in California.
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Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Public domain · Not affiliated with BLS.