Writers and Authors Salary
In Montgomery, AL, writers and authors earn $76,710 at the median, or about $36.88 an hour. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $115K for experienced workers.
So what does $77K get you in Montgomery?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Montgomery’s Regional Price Parity (89.7). 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.
About writers and authors
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What this looks like in Montgomery
Writers and authors pay in Montgomery tracks closely to the national median, $77K locally vs. $77K nationwide, a 0% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,016/month, 20.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.7 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for writers and authors in metros near Montgomery, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $64K | , |
| Jacksonville | $57K | , |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $66K | , |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $63K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montgomery, AL
Entry-level writers and authors (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $115K or more, a $57K spread from bottom to top.
Writers and Authors pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Writers and Authors salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $129K | +68% | 1,050 |
| Maryland | $104K | +36% | 540 |
| Connecticut | $98K | +28% | 480 |
| Vermont | $94K | +23% | 110 |
| Louisiana | $90K | +16% | 480 |
| California | $86K | +12% | 8,390 |
| Washington | $86K | +11% | 770 |
| Massachusetts | $85K | +11% | 1,350 |
| Virginia | $85K | +11% | 1,530 |
| New Jersey | $82K | +6% | 1,180 |
| Oregon | $81K | +5% | 950 |
| Pennsylvania | $77K | +1% | 1,080 |
| Colorado | $77K | -0% | 1,300 |
| Indiana | $76K | -1% | 450 |
| Georgia | $75K | -3% | 820 |
| Minnesota | $73K | -5% | 720 |
| New Hampshire | $72K | -7% | 180 |
| Rhode Island | $70K | -9% | 110 |
| Texas | $70K | -9% | 2,320 |
| Illinois | $68K | -11% | 2,640 |
| Florida | $68K | -11% | 3,010 |
| Alabama | $67K | -13% | 180 |
| Ohio | $66K | -14% | 830 |
| Kansas | $66K | -14% | 240 |
| Nebraska | $65K | -15% | 240 |
| Utah | $65K | -16% | 410 |
| West Virginia | $64K | -16% | 110 |
| Wisconsin | $64K | -16% | 710 |
| Nevada | $64K | -17% | 190 |
| North Carolina | $64K | -17% | 1,810 |
| Iowa | $61K | -21% | 290 |
| Tennessee | $59K | -23% | 1,260 |
| Oklahoma | $59K | -24% | 220 |
| Missouri | $58K | -24% | 600 |
| South Dakota | $57K | -26% | 60 |
| Idaho | $56K | -27% | 90 |
| Arizona | $56K | -27% | 600 |
| Mississippi | $54K | -30% | 130 |
| South Carolina | $52K | -32% | 520 |
| North Dakota | $51K | -34% | 80 |
| Wyoming | $50K | -35% | N/A |
| Kentucky | $49K | -37% | 350 |
| Arkansas | $48K | -38% | 270 |
Showing 1–10 of 43 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 Montgomery numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a writers and author afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montgomery?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 20.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,016/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for writers and authors in Montgomery?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new writers and authors typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,511/month. At HUD’s $1,016/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is writers and author a high-paying job in Montgomery?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $77K locally vs. $77K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Montgomery compare to the national average for writers and authors?
Montgomery pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do writers and authors make in Montgomery, AL?
The median is $76,710 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,520, and experienced writers and authors can clear $115,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Montgomery?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,890/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,016/month, which eats 20.8% 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 Montgomery?
Montgomery has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median writers and authors salary is worth about $85,518 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.