Writers and Authors pay range in Topeka
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,580 a year or less, while the top 10% make $87,430 or more. The middle half of writers and authors in Topeka earn between $40,890 and $66,560.
- $34K10th
- $41K25th
- $52KMedian
- $67K75th
- $87K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $54,810 | $4,568 | $26.35 |
| Median | $51,610 | $4,301 | $24.81 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $40,890 | $3,408 | $19.66 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $66,560 | $5,547 | $32.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Writers and Authors salary after taxes in Topeka
On the average salary of $54,810, a single filer in Topeka takes home about $43,961 a year, or $3,663 a month and $1,691 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Topeka a good place for writers and authors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Topeka area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.8), so the average $54,810 buys what about $61,709 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Topeka ($49,540). A typical home costs $217,683, or 4.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Writers and Authors salary in nearby metro areas
- Kansas City, MO$71,980
- Lincoln, NE$61,190
- Omaha, NE$71,760
- Columbia, MO$67,820
- Springfield, MO$60,370
- Tulsa, OK$68,370
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 Topeka: questions
How much do writers and authors make an hour in Topeka?
$26.35 an hour on average, and $24.81 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level writers and authors salary in Topeka?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,580 a year and the 25th percentile is $40,890, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the writers and authors take-home pay in Topeka?
About $43,961 a year ($3,663 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $54,810.
Do writers and authors earn more in Topeka than elsewhere?
The average here is 34% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($83,052).
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 Topeka, KS (45820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.5%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
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