Writers and Authors · Tennessee

Writers and Authors Salary in Tennessee

Writers and Authors in Tennessee earn a median annual wage of $58,870 —23.5% below the national median of $76,910. That ranks TN #32 of 43 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$58,870
Median hourly
$28.30
Entry level (P10)
$38,720
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$100,910
90th percentile
Employment
1,260
0.4 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-23.5%
U.S. $76,910

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$38,720
$47,120
$58,870
$78,900
$38,720$58,870$100,910
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $58,870.

Employment is 1.25× as concentrated as the national average, making Tennessee a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for writers and authors

All 43 states ranked by median annual wage. Tennessee is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1District of Columbia$129,300$62.161,0504.85
2Maryland$104,330$50.165400.63
3Connecticut$98,460$47.344800.92
4Vermont$94,430$45.401101.23
5Louisiana$89,520$43.044800.81
6California$86,480$41.588,3901.49
7Washington$85,700$41.207700.71
8Massachusetts$85,260$40.991,3501.20
9Virginia$85,000$40.871,5301.21
10New Jersey$81,590$39.231,1800.90

Related occupations in Tennessee

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Tennessee.

OccupationTennessee medianU.S. median
Public Relations Specialists$60,900$74,750
Coaches and Scouts$37,780$47,320
Graphic Designers$57,270$62,960
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$34,500$39,390
Producers and Directors$73,020$90,360
Editors$59,550$77,920

Frequently asked questions

How much do writers and authors make in Tennessee?

The median annual wage for writers and authors in Tennessee is $58,870, or $28.30 per hour. That is 23.5% below the national median of $76,910.

What is the entry-level writers and authors salary in Tennessee?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $38,720 per year ($18.62/hour). The 25th percentile is $47,120.

How many people work as writers and authors in Tennessee?

About 1,260 people work in this occupation in Tennessee, or 0.4 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Tennessee a good state for writers and authors?

Tennessee ranks #32 of 43 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.25x as concentrated as the national average, making Tennessee a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays writers and authors the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median wage at $129,300 per year, followed by Maryland ($104,330) and Connecticut ($98,460).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes