Writers and Authors pay range in Fresno
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,860 a year or less, while the top 10% make $110,360 or more. The middle half of writers and authors in Fresno earn between $59,280 and $97,150.
- $42K10th
- $59K25th
- $77KMedian
- $97K75th
- $110K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $78,550 | $6,546 | $37.76 |
| Median | $77,060 | $6,422 | $37.05 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,280 | $4,940 | $28.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $97,150 | $8,096 | $46.71 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Writers and Authors pay in Fresno vs. California and the U.S.
Writers and authors in Fresno earn 26% less than the California average ($106,560) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($86,090). At the median the gap is +0% against the U.S. median of $76,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno | $78,550 | $77,060 | $41,860 | $110,360 | 70 |
| 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 Fresno
On the average salary of $78,550, a single filer in Fresno takes home about $60,877 a year, or $5,073 a month and $2,341 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% 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 Fresno a good place for writers and authors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fresno area are 2% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.2), so the average $78,550 buys what about $76,891 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Fresno ($46,910). A typical home costs $409,749, or 5.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Writers and Authors salary in other California cities
Fresno ranks 11th 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
- Fresno$78,550
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
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Writers and Authors salary in Fresno: questions
How much do writers and authors make an hour in Fresno?
$37.77 an hour on average, and $37.05 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level writers and authors salary in Fresno?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,860 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,280, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the writers and authors take-home pay in Fresno?
About $60,877 a year ($5,073 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $78,550. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do writers and authors earn more in Fresno than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Fresno, CA (23420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.5%.
- 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 0.46, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.46).
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