Writers and Authors pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,330 a year or less, while the top 10% make $95,410 or more. The middle half of writers and authors in Charleston earn between $54,330 and $72,340.
- $42K10th
- $54K25th
- $72KMedian
- $72K75th
- $95K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $68,970 | $5,748 | $33.16 |
| Median | $72,340 | $6,028 | $34.78 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $54,330 | $4,528 | $26.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $72,340 | $6,028 | $34.78 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Writers and Authors pay in Charleston vs. West Virginia and the U.S.
Writers and authors in Charleston earn about the same as the West Virginia average ($67,860) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($86,090). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $76,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $68,970 | $72,340 | $42,330 | $95,410 | 30 |
| West Virginia | $67,860 | $64,410 | $24,340 | $103,380 | 110 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $68,970, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $55,081 a year, or $4,590 a month and $2,118 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for writers and authors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.7), so the average $68,970 buys what about $77,742 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($45,830). A typical home costs $148,817, or 2.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Writers and Authors salary in nearby metro areas
- Kingsport, TN$57,820
- Columbus, OH$76,250
- Charlottesville, VA$80,940
- Lexington, KY$56,940
- Winston-Salem, NC$67,650
- Cincinnati, OH$62,160
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 Charleston: questions
How much do writers and authors make an hour in Charleston?
$33.16 an hour on average, and $34.78 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level writers and authors salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,330 a year and the 25th percentile is $54,330, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the writers and authors take-home pay in Charleston?
About $55,081 a year ($4,590 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $68,970.
Do writers and authors earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% 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 Charleston, WV (16620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.8%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.94, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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