Writers and Authors Salary
In Tallahassee, FL, writers and authors earn $72,400 at the median, or about $34.81 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $93K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.92), which stretches that salary to about $77,087 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,352/month, or 26.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $72K get you in Tallahassee?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Tallahassee’s Regional Price Parity (93.92). 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.
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What this looks like in Tallahassee
Writers and authors pay in Tallahassee tracks closely to the national median, $72K locally vs. $77K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,352/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.92 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for writers and authors in metros near Tallahassee, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | $57K | $57K |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $66K | $58K |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $73K | $72K |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $69K | $68K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tallahassee, FL
Entry-level writers and authors (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $93K or more, a $46K 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 with published data
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 Tallahassee numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a writers and author afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tallahassee?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 27.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,352/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for writers and authors in Tallahassee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new writers and authors typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,809/month. At HUD’s $1,352/month FMR, rent would take 48% 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 Tallahassee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $72K locally vs. $77K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Tallahassee compare to the national average for writers and authors?
Tallahassee pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.92), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do writers and authors make in Tallahassee, FL?
The median is $72,400 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,820, and experienced writers and authors can clear $92,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Tallahassee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,943/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,352/month, which eats 27.4% 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 Tallahassee?
Tallahassee has a Regional Price Parity of 93.92 (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 $77,087 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.