Writers and Authors pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,260 a year or less, while the top 10% make $62,400 or more. The middle half of writers and authors in Columbia earn between $41,600 and $46,120.
- $37K10th
- $42K25th
- $42KMedian
- $46K75th
- $62K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $48,520 | $4,043 | $23.33 |
| Median | $41,600 | $3,467 | $20.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $41,600 | $3,467 | $20.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,120 | $3,843 | $22.17 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Writers and Authors pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Writers and authors in Columbia earn 17% less than the South Carolina average ($58,440) and 44% less than the U.S. average ($86,090). At the median the gap is -46% against the U.S. median of $76,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $48,520 | $41,600 | $37,260 | $62,400 | n/a |
| South Carolina | $58,440 | $51,920 | $38,210 | $91,140 | 520 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $48,520, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $40,265 a year, or $3,355 a month and $1,549 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for writers and authors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $48,520 buys what about $51,803 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 5.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Writers and Authors salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 3rd of 3 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($67,880).
- Charleston$67,880
- Greenville$56,850
- Columbia$48,520
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 Columbia: questions
How much do writers and authors make an hour in Columbia?
$23.33 an hour on average, and $20.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level writers and authors salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,260 a year and the 25th percentile is $41,600, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the writers and authors take-home pay in Columbia?
About $40,265 a year ($3,355 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $48,520.
Do writers and authors earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 44% 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 25.7%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
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