Writers and Authors Salary in Los Angeles, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

Median annual salary $79,080 +9.4% vs national
Median hourly $38.02
10th percentile $47,210
90th percentile $164,480
Employed locally 4,460
National median $72,270

Compare Writers and Authors salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Los Angeles, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Writers and Authors
in
Los Angeles, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $47,210
    25th
    $57,580
    50th (median)
    $79,080
    75th
    $105,560
    90th
    $164,480

    Los Angeles economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $93,525 2023 • Census ACS
    Writers and Authors salary vs area income 85% Median Writers and Authors salary is 15% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Writers and Authors

    Metro areaMedian salary
    District of Columbia $121,160
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $107,810
    Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $107,590
    Maryland $107,540
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $106,340
    Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $102,570

    Nearby metros — Writers and Authors salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $107,810
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $97,680
    San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $96,240
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $96,120
    California $80,470
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $80,470

    Related occupations in Los Angeles, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Producers and Directors $127,590
    Graphic Designers $75,820
    Public Relations Specialists $77,380
    Coaches and Scouts $47,230
    Editors $90,570
    Technical Writers $100,440

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Writers and Authors make per hour in Los Angeles?

    The median hourly wage for Writers and Authors in Los Angeles, CA is $38.02, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $77.90 or more per hour.

    Is Los Angeles above or below average for Writers and Authors salaries?

    The median Writers and Authors salary in Los Angeles, CA is 9.4% above the national median of $72,270. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Writers and Authors in Los Angeles?

    Entry-level Writers and Authors (10th percentile) earn around $47,210 per year in Los Angeles, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $57,580.