Writers and Authors pay range in Harrisburg
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,330 a year or less, while the top 10% make $102,410 or more. The middle half of writers and authors in Harrisburg earn between $62,190 and $85,490.
- $49K10th
- $62K25th
- $78KMedian
- $85K75th
- $102K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $79,410 | $6,618 | $38.18 |
| Median | $77,740 | $6,478 | $37.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,190 | $5,182 | $29.90 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $85,490 | $7,124 | $41.10 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Writers and Authors pay in Harrisburg vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Writers and authors in Harrisburg earn 12% less than the Pennsylvania average ($90,060) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($86,090). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $76,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg | $79,410 | $77,740 | $49,330 | $102,410 | 50 |
| Pennsylvania | $90,060 | $77,410 | $40,270 | $178,490 | 1,080 |
| 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 Harrisburg
On the average salary of $79,410, a single filer in Harrisburg takes home about $62,257 a year, or $5,188 a month and $2,395 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Harrisburg a good place for writers and authors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Harrisburg area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.7), so the average $79,410 buys what about $80,497 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Harrisburg ($49,610). A typical home costs $312,126, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Writers and Authors salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Harrisburg ranks 2nd of 3 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($95,850).
- Philadelphia$95,850
- Harrisburg$79,410
- Lancaster$70,700
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 Harrisburg: questions
How much do writers and authors make an hour in Harrisburg?
$38.18 an hour on average, and $37.37 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level writers and authors salary in Harrisburg?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,330 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,190, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the writers and authors take-home pay in Harrisburg?
About $62,257 a year ($5,188 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $79,410. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do writers and authors earn more in Harrisburg than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA (25420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.9%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.49, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.49).
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