Writers and Authors Salary
In Tennessee, writers and authors earn $58,870 at the median, or about $28.3 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $101K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $65,571 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 29.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $59K get you in Tennessee?
About writers and authors
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for writers and authors in Tennessee runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $77K. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level writers and authors (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $101K or more, a $62K spread from bottom to top.
Writers and Authors salary by metro in Tennessee
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $63K | +7% | 520 |
| Knoxville | $63K | +7% | 180 |
| Chattanooga | $61K | +4% | 110 |
| Memphis | $58K | -1% | 170 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $58K | -2% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track writers and authors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a writers and author afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 29.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for writers and authors in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new writers and authors typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,323/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 52% 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 Tennessee?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $59K here vs. $77K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for writers and authors?
Tennessee pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — below the national median.
How much do writers and authors make in Tennessee?
The median is $58,870 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,720, and experienced writers and authors can clear $100,910. 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 $4,112/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 29.5% 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 89.78 (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 $65,571 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.