Writers and Authors Salary
In Louisiana, writers and authors earn $89,520 at the median, or about $43.04 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $115K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $102,566 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,191/month, or 21% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $90K get you in Louisiana?
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Louisiana sits well above the national pay line for writers and authors, local pay runs about 16% higher than the U.S. median of $77K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,191/month, 21% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Louisiana offers a genuinely strong financial position for writers and authorss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Louisiana
Entry-level writers and authors (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $90K. Top earners bring in $115K or more, a $85K spread from bottom to top.
Writers and Authors salary by metro in Louisiana
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie | $79K | -12% | 120 |
| Baton Rouge | $76K | -15% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track writers and authors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a writers and author afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $90K, rent takes 21% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for writers and authors in Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new writers and authors typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,784/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 67% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is writers and author a high-paying job in Louisiana?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $90K here vs. $77K nationally.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for writers and authors?
Louisiana pays $90K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $103K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do writers and authors make in Louisiana?
The median is $89,520 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,740, and experienced writers and authors can clear $114,810. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $90K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,678/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 21% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a writers and authors salary go in Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $102,566 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.