Writers and Authors pay range in Sacramento
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,540 a year or less, while the top 10% make $152,670 or more. The middle half of writers and authors in Sacramento earn between $69,770 and $104,550.
- $42K10th
- $70K25th
- $83KMedian
- $105K75th
- $153K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $92,290 | $7,691 | $44.37 |
| Median | $82,690 | $6,891 | $39.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $69,770 | $5,814 | $33.54 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $104,550 | $8,712 | $50.26 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Writers and Authors pay in Sacramento vs. California and the U.S.
Writers and authors in Sacramento earn 13% less than the California average ($106,560) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($86,090). At the median the gap is +8% against the U.S. median of $76,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento | $92,290 | $82,690 | $41,540 | $152,670 | 240 |
| 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 Sacramento
On the average salary of $92,290, a single filer in Sacramento takes home about $69,265 a year, or $5,772 a month and $2,664 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% 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 Sacramento a good place for writers and authors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Sacramento area are 7% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 106.7), so the average $92,290 buys what about $86,519 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Sacramento ($59,750). A typical home costs $582,707, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Writers and Authors salary in other California cities
Sacramento ranks 7th 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
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Writers and Authors salary in Sacramento: questions
How much do writers and authors make an hour in Sacramento?
$44.37 an hour on average, and $39.76 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level writers and authors salary in Sacramento?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,540 a year and the 25th percentile is $69,770, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the writers and authors take-home pay in Sacramento?
About $69,265 a year ($5,772 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $92,290. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do writers and authors earn more in Sacramento than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more 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 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA (40900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.4%.
- 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 0.72, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.72).
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