Writers and Authors Salary in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
In Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX, writers and authors earn $68,990 at the median, or about $33.17 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.63), that's roughly $69,948 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,573/month — about 32.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $69K get you in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands’s Regional Price Parity (98.63). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Entry-level writers and authors (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $69K. Top earners bring in $98K or more, a $54K spread from bottom to top.
Writers and Authors pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $121K | +68% | 1,240 |
| Maryland | $108K | +49% | 620 |
| Washington | $86K | +19% | 900 |
| Vermont | $86K | +19% | 60 |
| Virginia | $81K | +12% | 1,630 |
| Connecticut | $81K | +12% | 640 |
| California | $80K | +11% | 8,950 |
| Massachusetts | $78K | +9% | 1,260 |
| Oregon | $78K | +8% | 850 |
| New Jersey | $76K | +5% | 1,610 |
| New Mexico | $74K | +2% | 60 |
| Texas | $72K | -1% | 2,100 |
| Louisiana | $71K | -2% | 380 |
| Ohio | $68K | -6% | 960 |
| West Virginia | $67K | -7% | 100 |
| Illinois | $66K | -8% | 2,010 |
| Minnesota | $66K | -9% | 980 |
| Florida | $66K | -9% | 2,440 |
| Idaho | $65K | -9% | 100 |
| Maine | $65K | -10% | N/A |
| Nebraska | $64K | -11% | 200 |
| Georgia | $64K | -11% | 1,200 |
| North Carolina | $64K | -12% | 2,170 |
| Arizona | $63K | -13% | 580 |
| Wisconsin | $62K | -14% | 620 |
| Indiana | $62K | -14% | 510 |
| Michigan | $62K | -14% | 860 |
| Utah | $61K | -16% | 630 |
| New Hampshire | $61K | -16% | 230 |
| Montana | $60K | -17% | 90 |
| Rhode Island | $60K | -18% | 200 |
| Kansas | $59K | -18% | 190 |
| Missouri | $59K | -18% | 550 |
| South Dakota | $59K | -19% | 40 |
| Tennessee | $59K | -19% | 1,220 |
| Pennsylvania | $58K | -20% | 1,360 |
| Delaware | $57K | -21% | 40 |
| Alabama | $57K | -21% | 170 |
| Iowa | $55K | -24% | 280 |
| Oklahoma | $53K | -27% | N/A |
| Nevada | $53K | -27% | 200 |
| North Dakota | $52K | -28% | 70 |
| South Carolina | $52K | -28% | 470 |
| Mississippi | $51K | -29% | 130 |
| Arkansas | $46K | -36% | 280 |
| Kentucky | $43K | -40% | 340 |
Showing 1–10 of 46 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track writers and authors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do writers and authors make in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The median is $68,990 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,460, and experienced writers and authors can clear $98,070. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $69K enough to live in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,743/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,573/month, which eats 33.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a writers and authors salary go in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands?
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands has a Regional Price Parity of 98.63 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median writers and authors salary is worth about $69,948 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do writers and authors get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.