Writers and Authors pay range in Richmond
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,190 a year or less, while the top 10% make $97,450 or more. The middle half of writers and authors in Richmond earn between $44,190 and $91,250.
- $44K10th
- $44K25th
- $74KMedian
- $91K75th
- $97K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $71,390 | $5,949 | $34.32 |
| Median | $74,300 | $6,192 | $35.72 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,190 | $3,682 | $21.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $91,250 | $7,604 | $43.87 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Writers and Authors pay in Richmond vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Writers and authors in Richmond earn 19% less than the Virginia average ($88,260) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($86,090). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $76,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $71,390 | $74,300 | $44,190 | $97,450 | 230 |
| Virginia | $88,260 | $85,000 | $44,190 | $131,040 | 1,530 |
| 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 Richmond
On the average salary of $71,390, a single filer in Richmond takes home about $55,762 a year, or $4,647 a month and $2,145 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).
Is Richmond a good place for writers and authors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Richmond area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.9), so the average $71,390 buys what about $72,953 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Richmond ($51,460). A typical home costs $397,705, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Writers and Authors salary in other Virginia cities
Richmond ranks 3rd of 3 Virginia metro areas for this job; Charlottesville pays the most ($80,940).
- Charlottesville$80,940
- Virginia Beach$74,730
- Richmond$71,390
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 Richmond: questions
How much do writers and authors make an hour in Richmond?
$34.32 an hour on average, and $35.72 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level writers and authors salary in Richmond?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,190 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,190, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the writers and authors take-home pay in Richmond?
About $55,762 a year ($4,647 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $71,390.
Do writers and authors earn more in Richmond than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% 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 Richmond, VA (40060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.7%.
- 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 (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.11, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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