National Salary Info » Writers and Authors

Highest Paying Industries for Writers and Authors

The top 100 highest paying industries for writers and authors (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment in those industries are also shown. As shown in the table, with an average annual salary of $89,930, federal government, including usps is the highest paying industry for writers and authors. It is followed by federal executive branch (oes designation) industry (average annual salary $89,930). The salary and employment information is computed from data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2015 [1]. For more information about salaries of writers and authors in a specific industry, use the links in the table.

Table 1. 100 Highest Paying Industries for Writers and Authors

Rank	Industry	Average Salary i	Entry Level Salary i	# of Empl. i
1	Federal government, including USPS	$89,930	$59,100	1,140
2	Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation)	$89,930	$59,090	1,130
3	Legal Services	$87,530	$34,730	120
4	Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers	$80,020	$47,510	n/a
5	Cable and Other Subscription Programming	$79,320	$35,490	140
6	Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$78,710	$35,190	260
7	Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation)	$75,360	$42,850	1,810
8	Federal, State, and Local Government	$75,360	$42,850	1,810
9	Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage	$75,030	$43,940	40
10	Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences	$74,840	$48,710	180
11	Direct Insurance (except Life, Health, and Medical) Carriers	$74,630	$42,710	70
12	Miscellaneous Manufacturing	$73,960	$36,290	30
13	Paper and Paper Product Merchant Wholesalers	$73,950	$32,560	n/a
14	Manufacturing	$71,710	$44,360	870
15	Nondepository Credit Intermediation	$71,460	$40,410	40
16	Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing	$70,850	$46,370	590
17	Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing	$70,610	$46,680	530
18	Depository Credit Intermediation	$69,820	$47,080	50
19	Credit Intermediation and Related Activities	$68,830	$46,220	120
20	Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations	$68,390	$26,610	120
21	Employment Services	$68,020	$32,560	390
22	Temporary Help Services	$67,900	$35,400	210
23	Scientific Research and Development Services	$66,980	$44,750	370
24	Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations	$66,770	$35,010	1,030
25	Spectator Sports	$66,540	$24,560	50
26	Finance and Insurance	$66,090	$40,930	520
27	Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services	$65,770	$33,780	7,140
28	Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities	$65,510	$36,970	110
29	Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers	$65,400	$24,470	3,530
30	Telecommunications	$65,360	$30,710	180
31	Insurance Carriers	$65,080	$41,920	200
32	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$63,770	$32,340	11,470
33	Insurance Carriers and Related Activities	$63,650	$40,860	270
34	Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services	$63,390	$32,970	270
35	Specialized Design Services	$63,250	$33,030	430
36	Public sector -- Federal, state, and local government, including government owned schools and hospit	$62,550	$39,060	2,980
37	Grantmaking and Giving Services	$62,390	$34,780	1,000
38	Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries	$62,330	$24,160	3,860
39	Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services	$62,310	$41,880	100
40	Hospitals (including private, state, and local government hospitals)	$61,360	$40,440	240
41	Hospitals - Privately owned	$61,310	$39,720	190
42	Outpatient Care Centers	$60,920	$30,990	110
43	Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities	$60,790	$36,490	70
44	Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation	$60,700	$24,530	4,140
45	Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers	$60,270	$41,930	90
46	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals - Privately owned	$60,160	$39,070	180
47	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals	$60,120	$39,710	210
48	Administrative and Support Services	$60,100	$32,270	940
49	Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	$60,100	$32,270	940
50	Other Insurance Related Activities	$59,750	$38,140	50
51	Engineering Services	$59,230	$43,010	80
52	Educational Support Services - Privately owned	$58,470	$28,310	340
53	Business Support Services	$58,460	$32,520	300
54	Other Financial Investment Activities	$58,410	$34,070	70
55	Business schools and computer and management training - Privately owned	$58,400	$34,350	70
56	Business Schools and Computer and Management Training	$58,400	$34,350	70
57	Transportation and Warehousing	$58,350	$38,880	100
58	Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities	$58,330	$42,990	180
59	Educational Support Services	$58,250	$28,610	350
60	Computer Systems Design and Related Services	$58,150	$23,410	880
61	Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services	$58,140	$30,010	1,910
62	Junior colleges - State government owned	$58,060	$36,390	50
63	Offices of Physicians	$57,970	$40,090	110
64	Management of Companies and Enterprises	$57,890	$35,360	1,170
65	Software Publishers	$57,350	$32,830	290
66	Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations	$57,240	$25,190	3,380
67	Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government)	$57,240	$25,240	3,400
68	Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers	$57,190	$34,640	100
69	Ambulatory Health Care Services	$57,180	$35,750	270
70	Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works)	$56,590	$33,270	40
71	Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers	$56,480	$43,440	n/a
72	Wired Telecommunications Carriers	$56,210	$32,420	100
73	Other Information Services	$56,200	$28,250	1,470
74	Chemical Manufacturing	$55,630	$30,420	40
75	Social Advocacy Organizations	$55,200	$31,700	710
76	Elementary and Secondary Schools - Local government owned	$55,050	$31,890	200
77	Information	$54,770	$25,240	13,430
78	Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods	$54,360	$35,210	230
79	Elementary and Secondary Schools	$54,280	$24,480	360
80	Local government, including schools and hospitals	$54,120	$34,930	980
81	Educational Services - Local government owned	$54,050	$32,380	370
82	Television Broadcasting	$54,040	$27,450	1,700
83	Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)	$53,930	$36,300	570
84	Wholesale Trade	$53,860	$34,180	500
85	Junior Colleges (including private, state, and local government schools)	$53,660	$33,180	210
86	Other Support Services	$53,620	$32,230	40
87	Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods	$53,570	$33,080	220
88	Other Schools and Instruction	$53,550	$27,460	130
89	Educational Services - Privately owned	$53,420	$25,490	1,780
90	Health Care and Social Assistance	$53,320	$33,430	1,130
91	Broadcasting (except Internet)	$53,290	$26,860	2,270
92	Other schools and instruction - Privately owned	$53,250	$27,170	120
93	Educational Services	$53,170	$29,770	2,880
94	Elementary and Secondary Schools - Privately owned	$53,130	$18,220	160
95	Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers	$53,080	$33,230	60
96	Vocational Rehabilitation Services	$52,720	$23,950	60
97	Radio and Television Broadcasting	$52,300	$26,520	2,120
98	Miscellaneous Durable Goods Merchant Wholesalers	$52,290	$39,750	50
99	Educational Services - State government owned	$52,160	$34,570	730
100	Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools	$51,710	$30,900	1,750