SOC 27-3043 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Writers and Authors — Texas
Texas · 4 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Texas is $69,990 a year, trailing the national median of $76,910 by 9.0%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Texas is $69,990 a year, trailing the national median of $76,910 by 9.0%. Half of workers earn between $53,950 and $96,260. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $49,070 and the ninetieth at $125,240.
The area has 2,320 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.2 of every thousand jobs. Among the 43 states with published data for this occupation, Texas ranks 19th by median wage. Houston leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $76,120. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 269th of 794 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,070 | −36.2% |
| 25th | $53,950 | −29.9% |
| Median (50th) | $69,990 | −9.0% |
| 75th | $96,260 | +25.2% |
| 90th | $125,240 | +62.8% |
| Mean | $81,210 | +5.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Texas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston | $76,120 | 400 | |
| 2 | Austin | $75,380 | 420 | |
| 3 | San Antonio | $74,030 | 130 | |
| 4 | Dallas | $64,520 | 850 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Texas run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $69,990 goes as far as $72,080 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$69,990as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$72,080US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $69,990 a year, 9.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $49,070 to $125,240 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,320 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 19th of 43 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Houston, at $76,120.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Writers and Authors in Texas?
The median annual wage is $69,990, or $33.65 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 Texas is 9.0% 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 Texas earns more than $125,240 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $49,070 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 Houston, at $76,120 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,320 jobs in this occupation in Texas. 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.
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