Writers and Authors Salary
In North Dakota, writers and authors earn $50,860 at the median, or about $24.45 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $84K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $57,217 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,034/month, about 30.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $51K get you in North Dakota?
About writers and authors
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What this looks like in North Dakota
Pay for writers and authors in North Dakota runs about 34% below the U.S. median of $77K. Rent runs $1,034/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (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, North Dakota
Entry-level writers and authors (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $84K or more, a $49K spread from bottom to top.
Writers and Authors salary by metro in North Dakota
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $51K | +0% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track writers and authors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a writers and author afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 29.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for writers and authors in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new writers and authors typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,100/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 49% 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 North Dakota?
Local pay runs 34% below the national median — $51K here vs. $77K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for writers and authors?
North Dakota pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s -34%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — below the national median.
How much do writers and authors make in North Dakota?
The median is $50,860 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,000, and experienced writers and authors can clear $83,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,493/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 29.6% 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 North Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (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 $57,217 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.