Writers and Authors Salary
In Virginia, writers and authors earn $85,000 at the median, or about $40.87 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $131K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $89,672 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 30.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $85K get you in Virginia?
About writers and authors
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What this looks like in Virginia
Virginia sits well above the national pay line for writers and authors, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $77K. Rent runs $1,646/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Virginia
Entry-level writers and authors (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $131K or more, a $87K spread from bottom to top.
Writers and Authors salary by metro in Virginia
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $77K | -9% | 70 |
| Richmond | $74K | -13% | 230 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $73K | -14% | 160 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a writers and author afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 31% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for writers and authors in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new writers and authors typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,651/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 62% 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 Virginia?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $85K here vs. $77K nationally.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for writers and authors?
Virginia pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do writers and authors make in Virginia?
The median is $85,000 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,190, and experienced writers and authors can clear $131,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,318/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 31% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a writers and authors salary go in Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $89,672 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.