SOC 27-3043 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Writers and Authors — Amherst Town
Amherst Town-Northampton, MA · 2 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Amherst Town, MA is $65,290 a year, trailing the national median of $76,910 by 15.1%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Amherst Town, MA is $65,290 a year, trailing the national median of $76,910 by 15.1%. Half of workers earn between $63,090 and $85,170. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $56,070 and the ninetieth at $96,280.
The area has 50 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 2.25 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Boston leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $85,260. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 156th of 283 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $56,070 | −27.1% |
| 25th | $63,090 | −18.0% |
| Median (50th) | $65,290 | −15.1% |
| 75th | $85,170 | +10.7% |
| 90th | $96,280 | +25.2% |
| Mean | $75,660 | −1.6% |
Other metro areas in Massachusetts
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Amherst Town run 5.8% above the national average, so the median of $65,290 buys what $61,711 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 19.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$65,290as reported by BLSLocal price level
105.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$61,711US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $65,290 a year, 15.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $56,070 to $96,280 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 50 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Boston, at $85,260.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Writers and Authors in Amherst Town, MA?
The median annual wage is $65,290, or $31.39 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $76,910, so pay in Amherst Town, MA is 15.1% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Amherst Town, MA earns more than $96,280 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $56,070 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Boston, at $85,260 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 50 jobs in this occupation in Amherst Town, MA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data