SOC 27-3043 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Writers and Authors — Virginia
Virginia · 3 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Virginia comes to $85,000 a year, ahead of the national median of $76,910 by 10.5%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Virginia comes to $85,000 a year, ahead of the national median of $76,910 by 10.5%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $64,730 and $104,000. The lowest tenth earn under $44,190, while the highest tenth earn more than $131,040.
Employment stands at 1,530, or 0.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 43 states with published data for this occupation, Virginia ranks 9th by median wage. Charlottesville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $76,990. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 180th of 747 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,190 | −42.5% |
| 25th | $64,730 | −15.8% |
| Median (50th) | $85,000 | +10.5% |
| 75th | $104,000 | +35.2% |
| 90th | $131,040 | +70.4% |
| Mean | $88,260 | +14.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Virginia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlottesville | $76,990 | 70 | |
| 2 | Richmond | $74,300 | 230 | |
| 3 | Virginia Beach | $73,460 | 160 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Virginia sit close to the national average, so $85,000 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$85,000as reported by BLSLocal price level
101.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$84,075US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $85,000 a year, 10.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $44,190 to $131,040 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,530 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 9th of 43 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Charlottesville, at $76,990.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Writers and Authors in Virginia?
The median annual wage is $85,000, or $40.87 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 Virginia is 10.5% higher. 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 Virginia earns more than $131,040 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $44,190 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 Charlottesville, at $76,990 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,530 jobs in this occupation in Virginia. 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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