Writers and Authors pay range in Baltimore
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,680 a year or less, while the top 10% make $163,630 or more. The middle half of writers and authors in Baltimore earn between $70,350 and $121,680.
- $57K10th
- $70K25th
- $87KMedian
- $122K75th
- $164K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $101,430 | $8,452 | $48.76 |
| Median | $87,020 | $7,252 | $41.84 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $70,350 | $5,862 | $33.82 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $121,680 | $10,140 | $58.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Writers and Authors pay in Baltimore vs. Maryland and the U.S.
Writers and authors in Baltimore earn 7% less than the Maryland average ($109,650) and 18% more than the U.S. average ($86,090). At the median the gap is +13% against the U.S. median of $76,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $101,430 | $87,020 | $56,680 | $163,630 | 240 |
| Maryland | $109,650 | $104,330 | $59,560 | $165,050 | 540 |
| 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 Baltimore
On the average salary of $101,430, a single filer in Baltimore takes home about $75,580 a year, or $6,298 a month and $2,907 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
Is Baltimore a good place for writers and authors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Baltimore area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.5), so the average $101,430 buys what about $97,074 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Baltimore ($59,070). A typical home costs $405,877, or 4.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Writers and Authors salary in nearby metro areas
- Lancaster, PA$70,700
- Washington, DC$118,070
- Harrisburg, PA$79,410
- Philadelphia, PA$95,850
- Atlantic City, NJ$63,280
- Trenton, NJ$84,730
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 Baltimore: questions
How much do writers and authors make an hour in Baltimore?
$48.77 an hour on average, and $41.84 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level writers and authors salary in Baltimore?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,680 a year and the 25th percentile is $70,350, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the writers and authors take-home pay in Baltimore?
About $75,580 a year ($6,298 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $101,430. Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
Do writers and authors earn more in Baltimore than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% more 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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD (12580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.5%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.57, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.57).
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