Writers and Authors pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,220 a year or less, while the top 10% make $94,560 or more. The middle half of writers and authors in Memphis earn between $49,210 and $77,230.
- $42K10th
- $49K25th
- $58KMedian
- $77K75th
- $95K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $63,350 | $5,279 | $30.46 |
| Median | $58,480 | $4,873 | $28.12 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,210 | $4,101 | $23.66 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,230 | $6,436 | $37.13 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Writers and Authors pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Writers and authors in Memphis earn 4% less than the Tennessee average ($66,180) and 26% less than the U.S. average ($86,090). At the median the gap is -24% against the U.S. median of $76,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $63,350 | $58,480 | $42,220 | $94,560 | 170 |
| Tennessee | $66,180 | $58,870 | $38,720 | $100,910 | 1,260 |
| 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 Memphis
On the average salary of $63,350, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $53,082 a year, or $4,423 a month and $2,042 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $53,082 | $4,423 |
| Working in MS | $51,280 | $4,273 |
| Working in AR | $51,226 | $4,269 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for writers and authors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $63,350 buys what about $68,725 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Writers and Authors salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 4th of 5 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Knoxville pays the most ($77,230).
- Knoxville$77,230
- Nashville$68,520
- Chattanooga$65,470
- Memphis$63,350
- Kingsport$57,820
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 Memphis: questions
How much do writers and authors make an hour in Memphis?
$30.46 an hour on average, and $28.12 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level writers and authors salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,220 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,210, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the writers and authors take-home pay in Memphis?
About $53,082 a year ($4,423 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $63,350. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do writers and authors earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 26% 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.8%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.93, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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