Writers and Authors Salary
In Texas, writers and authors earn $69,990 at the median, or about $33.65 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $76,500 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,415/month, or 29.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $70K get you in Texas?
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What this looks like in Texas
Writers and authors pay in Texas tracks closely to the national median, $70K locally vs. $77K nationwide, a 9% difference. Rent runs $1,415/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 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Texas
Entry-level writers and authors (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $70K. Top earners bring in $125K or more, a $76K spread from bottom to top.
Writers and Authors salary by metro in Texas
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $76K | +9% | 400 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $75K | +8% | 420 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $74K | +6% | 130 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $65K | -8% | 850 |
Compare to other states
Track writers and authors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a writers and author afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
Yes — at the median salary of $70K, rent takes 29.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for writers and authors in Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new writers and authors typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,944/month. At HUD’s $1,415/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 Texas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $70K locally vs. $77K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Texas compare to the national average for writers and authors?
Texas pays $70K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — below the national median.
How much do writers and authors make in Texas?
The median is $69,990 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,070, and experienced writers and authors can clear $125,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $70K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,802/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $76,500 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.