Paycheck Atlas

Writers and Authors salary in District of Columbia

The median writers and authors in District of Columbia earns $129,300 a year, 68% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $7,388 a month.

10th percentile
$74,990
25th percentile
$100,320
Median percentile
$129,300
75th percentile
$158,020
90th percentile
$172,480

Based on 1,050 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.

What you keep

$88,652 take-home a year
Gross pay$129,300
Federal income tax−$19,766
Social Security + Medicare−$9,891
District of Columbia income tax (approx.)−$10,991
Monthly take-home$7,388
Every two weeks$3,410

Does it go far here?

$117,651Median pay in District of Columbia is worth this at average US prices (local price level 109.9 vs 100).
26%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($1,954 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in District of Columbia

JobMedian pay
Public Relations Managers$197,600
Computer and Information Systems Managers$195,190
Lawyers$195,190
Financial Managers$188,880
Architectural and Engineering Managers$185,220
Human Resources Managers$184,350
Marketing Managers$177,170
Purchasing Managers$175,720

All writers and authors salaries · Take-home pay in District of Columbia