Writers and Authors pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,980 a year or less, while the top 10% make $117,890 or more. The middle half of writers and authors in Durham earn between $63,370 and $96,610.
- $48K10th
- $63K25th
- $84KMedian
- $97K75th
- $118K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $83,700 | $6,975 | $40.24 |
| Median | $84,130 | $7,011 | $40.45 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $63,370 | $5,281 | $30.47 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $96,610 | $8,051 | $46.45 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Writers and Authors pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Writers and authors in Durham earn 16% more than the North Carolina average ($72,340) and about the same as the U.S. average ($86,090). At the median the gap is +9% against the U.S. median of $76,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $83,700 | $84,130 | $47,980 | $117,890 | 130 |
| North Carolina | $72,340 | $63,660 | $42,180 | $117,820 | 1,810 |
| 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 Durham
On the average salary of $83,700, a single filer in Durham takes home about $64,882 a year, or $5,407 a month and $2,495 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).
Is Durham a good place for writers and authors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $83,700 buys what about $85,783 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Writers and Authors salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 1st of 8 North Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Durham$83,700
- Greensboro$78,410
- Raleigh$78,320
- Charlotte$74,940
- Asheville$67,960
- Winston-Salem$67,650
- Wilmington$59,360
- Hickory$57,270
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 Durham: questions
How much do writers and authors make an hour in Durham?
$40.24 an hour on average, and $40.45 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level writers and authors salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,980 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,370, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the writers and authors take-home pay in Durham?
About $64,882 a year ($5,407 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $83,700.
Do writers and authors earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 12.6%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.24, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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