Writers and Authors Salary
In Missouri, writers and authors earn $58,140 at the median, or about $27.95 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $99K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $65,348 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,097/month, or 28.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $58K get you in Missouri?
About writers and authors
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What this looks like in Missouri
Pay for writers and authors in Missouri runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $77K. Rent runs $1,097/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missouri
Entry-level writers and authors (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $99K or more, a $57K spread from bottom to top.
Writers and Authors salary by metro in Missouri
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $67K | +16% | 220 |
| Columbia | $63K | +8% | 40 |
| St. Louis | $57K | -1% | 300 |
| Springfield | $51K | -12% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track writers and authors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a writers and author afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
Yes — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 28.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for writers and authors in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new writers and authors typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,520/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 Missouri?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $58K here vs. $77K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for writers and authors?
Missouri pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — below the national median.
How much do writers and authors make in Missouri?
The median is $58,140 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,000, and experienced writers and authors can clear $98,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,898/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 28.1% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $65,348 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.