Skip to content
AffordMap
Arts & Media

Writers and Authors Salary in Tennessee

In Tennessee, writers and authors earn $58,620 at the median — $28.18 an hour. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $91K for experienced workers.

Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:

$59K
Median annual
$28.18/hr
Hourly rate
$41K
Entry level (10th %)
$91K
Senior level (90th %)

So what does $59K get you in Tennessee?

Estimated monthly take-home$4,095/mo
Median 2BR rent-$1,215/mo
Rent as % of take-home29.7% (within guideline)
Cost-of-living adjusted salary$65,293/yr
Monthly remaining after rent$2,880/mo

About writers and authors

U.S. employed: 1,220
Category: Arts & Media

Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more

View jobs for Writers and Authors
Currently hiring in Tennessee
View (opens in new tab)

Compensation breakdown

Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee

Bar chart showing Writers and Authors salary percentiles in Tennessee: 10th percentile $41,020, 25th percentile $46,940, median $58,620, 75th percentile $67,580, 90th percentile $91,070. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.10th$41K25th$47KMedian$59K75th$68K90th$91K
Bar chart showing Writers and Authors salary percentiles in Tennessee: 10th percentile $41,020, 25th percentile $46,940, median $58,620, 75th percentile $67,580, 90th percentile $91,070. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Entry-level writers and authors (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $91K or more, a $50K spread from bottom to top.

Share

Writers and Authors salary by metro in Tennessee

5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay

Metro areaMedian salaryvs. stateEmployment
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin$61K+3%390
Knoxville$59K+0%310
Memphis$55K-6%150
Kingsport-Bristol$55K-6%30
Chattanooga$55K-7%70

Compare to other states

Track writers and authors salary changes

BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.

More openings for Writers and Authors
Currently hiring in Tennessee
View (opens in new tab)
Build creative skills online
Design, UX, branding, and portfolio-building courses
View (opens in new tab)
Would this salary go further somewhere else?
Compare your purchasing power across cities
Compare →
How do you get into this field?
Education, licensing, and what the career path looks like
Read guide →

Related careers in Arts & Media

Frequently asked questions

How much do writers and authors make in Tennessee?

The median is $58,620 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,020, and experienced writers and authors can clear $91,070. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.

Is $59K enough to live in Tennessee?

On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,095/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 29.7% 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 Tennessee?

Tennessee 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 $65,293 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.

All careers in Tennessee
Top-paying jobs, rent, and cost of living
Location hub →

People also searched