Writers and Authors pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,440 a year or less, while the top 10% make $134,710 or more. The middle half of writers and authors in Chicago earn between $49,230 and $99,990.
- $43K10th
- $49K25th
- $76KMedian
- $100K75th
- $135K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $80,510 | $6,709 | $38.71 |
| Median | $75,940 | $6,328 | $36.51 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,230 | $4,102 | $23.67 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $99,990 | $8,332 | $48.07 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Writers and Authors pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Writers and authors in Chicago earn 4% more than the Illinois average ($77,240) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($86,090). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $76,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $80,510 | $75,940 | $43,440 | $134,710 | 2,120 |
| Illinois | $77,240 | $68,220 | $41,830 | $134,400 | 2,640 |
| 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 Chicago
On the average salary of $80,510, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $61,625 a year, or $5,135 a month and $2,370 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $63,083 | $5,257 |
| Working in IL | $61,625 | $5,135 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for writers and authors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $80,510 buys what about $77,716 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 4.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Writers and Authors salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$64,170
- Madison, WI$72,410
- Fort Wayne, IN$73,160
- Lansing, MI$72,480
- Green Bay, WI$63,540
- Cedar Rapids, IA$67,570
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 Chicago: questions
How much do writers and authors make an hour in Chicago?
$38.71 an hour on average, and $36.51 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level writers and authors salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,440 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,230, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the writers and authors take-home pay in Chicago?
About $61,625 a year ($5,135 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $80,510.
Do writers and authors earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). 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 1.52, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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