Writers and Authors pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,950 a year or less, while the top 10% make $73,770 or more. The middle half of writers and authors in Lexington earn between $43,450 and $66,570.
- $38K10th
- $43K25th
- $51KMedian
- $67K75th
- $74K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $56,940 | $4,745 | $27.38 |
| Median | $51,170 | $4,264 | $24.60 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $43,450 | $3,621 | $20.89 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $66,570 | $5,548 | $32.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Writers and Authors pay in Lexington vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Writers and authors in Lexington earn about the same as the Kentucky average ($55,440) and 34% less than the U.S. average ($86,090). At the median the gap is -33% against the U.S. median of $76,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $56,940 | $51,170 | $37,950 | $73,770 | 50 |
| Kentucky | $55,440 | $48,780 | $39,580 | $76,010 | 350 |
| 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 Lexington
On the average salary of $56,940, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $44,490 a year, or $3,708 a month and $1,711 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 (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for writers and authors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $56,940 buys what about $61,299 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Writers and Authors salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 2nd of 2 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Louisville pays the most ($57,290).
- Louisville$57,290
- Lexington$56,940
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 Lexington: questions
How much do writers and authors make an hour in Lexington?
$27.38 an hour on average, and $24.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level writers and authors salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,950 a year and the 25th percentile is $43,450, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the writers and authors take-home pay in Lexington?
About $44,490 a year ($3,708 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $56,940. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do writers and authors earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is 34% 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 12.5%.
- 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). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.55, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.55).
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