Writers and Authors pay range in Tucson
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,800 a year or less, while the top 10% make $72,380 or more. The middle half of writers and authors in Tucson earn between $39,990 and $59,720.
- $38K10th
- $40K25th
- $48KMedian
- $60K75th
- $72K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,860 | $4,488 | $25.89 |
| Median | $47,990 | $3,999 | $23.07 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,990 | $3,332 | $19.23 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,720 | $4,977 | $28.71 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Writers and Authors pay in Tucson vs. Arizona and the U.S.
Writers and authors in Tucson earn 15% less than the Arizona average ($63,240) and 37% less than the U.S. average ($86,090). At the median the gap is -38% against the U.S. median of $76,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson | $53,860 | $47,990 | $37,800 | $72,380 | 80 |
| Arizona | $63,240 | $55,990 | $42,300 | $90,990 | 600 |
| 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 Tucson
On the average salary of $53,860, a single filer in Tucson takes home about $44,504 a year, or $3,709 a month and $1,712 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 Tucson a good place for writers and authors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Tucson area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.9), so the average $53,860 buys what about $55,585 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Tucson ($47,760). A typical home costs $343,580, or 6.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Writers and Authors salary in other Arizona cities
Tucson ranks 2nd of 2 Arizona metro areas for this job; Phoenix pays the most ($65,580).
- Phoenix$65,580
- Tucson$53,860
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 Tucson: questions
How much do writers and authors make an hour in Tucson?
$25.89 an hour on average, and $23.07 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level writers and authors salary in Tucson?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,800 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the writers and authors take-home pay in Tucson?
About $44,504 a year ($3,709 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,860.
Do writers and authors earn more in Tucson than elsewhere?
The average here is 37% 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 Tucson, AZ (46060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.9%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.67, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.67).
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