Writers and Authors pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $182,160 or more. The middle half of writers and authors in Philadelphia earn between $60,320 and $102,480.
- $52K10th
- $60K25th
- $84KMedian
- $102K75th
- $182K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $95,850 | $7,988 | $46.08 |
| Median | $84,130 | $7,011 | $40.45 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,320 | $5,027 | $29.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $102,480 | $8,540 | $49.27 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Writers and Authors pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Writers and authors in Philadelphia earn 6% more than the Pennsylvania average ($90,060) and 11% more than the U.S. average ($86,090). At the median the gap is +9% against the U.S. median of $76,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $95,850 | $84,130 | $52,080 | $182,160 | 560 |
| 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 Philadelphia
On the average salary of $95,850, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $73,318 a year, or $6,110 a month and $2,820 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in PA | $73,318 | $6,110 |
| Working in NJ | $72,345 | $6,029 |
| Working in MD | $71,919 | $5,993 |
| Working in DE | $71,165 | $5,930 |
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 Philadelphia a good place for writers and authors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $95,850 buys what about $93,463 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 4.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Writers and Authors salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia ranks 1st of 3 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Philadelphia: questions
How much do writers and authors make an hour in Philadelphia?
$46.08 an hour on average, and $40.45 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level writers and authors salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,320, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the writers and authors take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $73,318 a year ($6,110 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $95,850. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do writers and authors earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 13.1%.
- 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 0.63, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.63).
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