Writers and Authors pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $148,290 or more. The middle half of writers and authors in Rochester earn between $43,040 and $92,150.
- $43K10th
- $43K25th
- $69KMedian
- $92K75th
- $148K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $81,120 | $6,760 | $39.00 |
| Median | $68,600 | $5,717 | $32.98 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $43,040 | $3,587 | $20.69 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $92,150 | $7,679 | $44.30 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Writers and Authors pay in Rochester vs. New York and the U.S.
Writers and authors in Rochester earn 6% less than the U.S. average ($86,090). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $76,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $81,120 | $68,600 | $43,040 | $148,290 | 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 Rochester
On the average salary of $81,120, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $62,041 a year, or $5,170 a month and $2,386 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for writers and authors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.0), so the average $81,120 buys what about $83,599 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($51,210). A typical home costs $285,034, or 3.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Writers and Authors salary in other New York cities
Rochester ranks 2nd of 5 New York metro areas for this job; Albany pays the most ($88,960).
- Albany$88,960
- Rochester$81,120
- Syracuse$80,160
- Glens Falls$78,160
- Buffalo$75,260
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 Rochester: questions
How much do writers and authors make an hour in Rochester?
$39.00 an hour on average, and $32.98 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level writers and authors salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $43,040, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the writers and authors take-home pay in Rochester?
About $62,041 a year ($5,170 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $81,120. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do writers and authors earn more in Rochester 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 Rochester, NY (40380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 15.6%.
- 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). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.73, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.73).
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