Writers and Authors Salary in California
State wage data from the BLS OEWS survey, May 2025.
Median annual
$86,480
Median hourly
$42
Average annual
$106,560
Employed in state
8.4K
The median annual salary for Writers and Authors in California is $86,480, or about $42 an hour. That is 12% higher than the national median.
Pay in California ranges from $56,730 at the 10th percentile to $193,080 at the 90th percentile. Roughly 8.4K people work as writers and authors in the state.
Pay distribution in California
10th$56,730
25th$75,530
Median$86,480
75th$127,870
90th$193,080
Salary calculator
- Hourly
- $41.58
- Daily
- $333
- Weekly
- $1,663
- Bi-weekly
- $3,326
- Monthly
- $7,207
- Annual
- $86,480
$86,480 a year is around the 50th percentile for Writers and Authorss in California. The median is $86,480.
Writers and Authors pay by metro area in California
| Metro area | Median annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $118,810 | 400 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $107,700 | 50 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $86,340 | 30 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $82,920 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $82,690 | 240 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $82,590 | 350 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $78,990 | 190 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $77,250 | N/A |
| Fresno, CA | $77,060 | 70 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $74,820 | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $73,600 | 40 |
Other jobs in California
- Home Health and Personal Care Aides$35,800
- Fast Food and Counter Workers$31,200
- Retail Salespersons$35,410
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$40,240
- Registered Nurses$97,550
- Cashiers$32,880
- Office Clerks, General$45,010
- Stockers and Order Fillers$37,330
- General and Operations Managers$105,770
- Software Developers$135,980
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$36,840
- Waiters and Waitresses$35,230
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,640
- Security Guards$38,020
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$36,780
- Customer Service Representatives$44,770
- Accountants and Auditors$83,680
- Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$35,660
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$47,540
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$69,990