Writers and Authors pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,620 a year or less, while the top 10% make $159,470 or more. The middle half of writers and authors in Portland earn between $61,260 and $109,260.
- $53K10th
- $61K25th
- $88KMedian
- $109K75th
- $159K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $94,070 | $7,839 | $45.23 |
| Median | $87,560 | $7,297 | $42.10 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,260 | $5,105 | $29.45 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $109,260 | $9,105 | $52.53 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Writers and Authors pay in Portland vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Writers and authors in Portland earn 7% more than the Oregon average ($87,800) and 9% more than the U.S. average ($86,090). At the median the gap is +14% against the U.S. median of $76,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $94,070 | $87,560 | $52,620 | $159,470 | 600 |
| Oregon | $87,800 | $80,540 | $46,180 | $158,190 | 950 |
| 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 Portland
On the average salary of $94,070, a single filer in Portland takes home about $68,078 a year, or $5,673 a month and $2,618 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WA | $75,008 | $6,251 |
| Working in OR | $68,078 | $5,673 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Portland a good place for writers and authors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.4), so the average $94,070 buys what about $89,233 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($60,690). A typical home costs $552,022, or 5.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Writers and Authors salary in other Oregon cities
Portland ranks 1st of 3 Oregon metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Portland: questions
How much do writers and authors make an hour in Portland?
$45.23 an hour on average, and $42.10 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level writers and authors salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,620 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,260, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the writers and authors take-home pay in Portland?
About $68,078 a year ($5,673 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $94,070. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do writers and authors earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (38900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.9%.
- 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). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.60, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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