Writers and Authors Salary
In Massachusetts, writers and authors earn $85,260 at the median, or about $40.99 an hour. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $139K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.09), that's roughly $85,183 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,347/month, about 43.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Massachusetts. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $85K get you in Massachusetts?
About writers and authors
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What this looks like in Massachusetts
Massachusetts sits well above the national pay line for writers and authors, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $77K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,347/month, which is 43.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.09) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Massachusetts
Entry-level writers and authors (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $139K or more, a $80K spread from bottom to top.
Writers and Authors salary by metro in Massachusetts
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $85K | +0% | 1,130 |
| Worcester | $80K | -6% | 80 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton | $65K | -23% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track writers and authors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Massachusetts numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a writers and author afford a 2BR apartment alone in Massachusetts?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 43.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,347/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for writers and authors in Massachusetts?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new writers and authors typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,535/month. At HUD’s $2,347/month FMR, rent would take 66% 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 Massachusetts?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $85K here vs. $77K nationally.
How does Massachusetts compare to the national average for writers and authors?
Massachusetts pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do writers and authors make in Massachusetts?
The median is $85,260 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,910, and experienced writers and authors can clear $138,950. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Massachusetts?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,342/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,347/month, which eats 43.9% 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 Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a Regional Price Parity of 100.09 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median writers and authors salary is worth about $85,183 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.