Writers and Authors pay range in Bakersfield
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,380 a year or less, while the top 10% make $123,040 or more. The middle half of writers and authors in Bakersfield earn between $62,080 and $98,960.
- $45K10th
- $62K25th
- $74KMedian
- $99K75th
- $123K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $81,820 | $6,818 | $39.34 |
| Median | $73,600 | $6,133 | $35.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,080 | $5,173 | $29.85 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $98,960 | $8,247 | $47.58 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Writers and Authors pay in Bakersfield vs. California and the U.S.
Writers and authors in Bakersfield earn 23% less than the California average ($106,560) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($86,090). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $76,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $81,820 | $73,600 | $45,380 | $123,040 | 40 |
| California | $106,560 | $86,480 | $56,730 | $193,080 | 8,390 |
| United States | $86,090 | $76,910 | $44,310 | $139,870 | 47,940 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Writers and Authors salary after taxes in Bakersfield
On the average salary of $81,820, a single filer in Bakersfield takes home about $62,873 a year, or $5,239 a month and $2,418 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Bakersfield a good place for writers and authors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bakersfield area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.9), so the average $81,820 buys what about $81,101 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Bakersfield ($47,470). A typical home costs $364,264, or 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Writers and Authors salary in other California cities
Bakersfield ranks 10th of 11 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($120,540).
- San Jose$120,540
- Santa Rosa$113,000
- Oxnard$102,320
- San Diego$101,560
- Los Angeles$98,070
- San Luis Obispo$94,260
- Sacramento$92,290
- Riverside$88,320
- Santa Maria$84,700
- Bakersfield$81,820
Highest-paying cities for writers and authors
Waterbury, CT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($186,370).
- Waterbury, CT$186,370
- San Jose, CA$120,540
- Washington, DC$118,070
- Santa Rosa, CA$113,000
- Bridgeport, CT$111,590
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Writers and Authors salary in Bakersfield: questions
How much do writers and authors make an hour in Bakersfield?
$39.34 an hour on average, and $35.38 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level writers and authors salary in Bakersfield?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,380 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,080, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the writers and authors take-home pay in Bakersfield?
About $62,873 a year ($5,239 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $81,820. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do writers and authors earn more in Bakersfield than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less than the U.S. average for this job ($86,090).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-3043; area Bakersfield-Delano, CA (12540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.43, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.43).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.