Writer and Author Salary in Chicago, IL
Writers and Authors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $75,940 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $58,640 take-home, or $4,887 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median writer and author salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,877
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,708
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,101
- Illinois income tax$3,614
- Take-home pay$58,640
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Writer and Author pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,440 | $20.88 | $35,079 | $2,923 |
| 25th percentile | $49,230 | $23.67 | $39,444 | $3,287 |
| Median (50th) | $75,940 | $36.51 | $58,640 | $4,887 |
| 75th percentile | $99,990 | $48.07 | $74,368 | $6,197 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $134,710 | $64.76 | $96,817 | $8,068 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $75,940 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median writer and author's $58,640 take-home pay has the buying power of $56,605 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chicago, IL has 1.5× the national concentration of writer and author jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for writers and authors, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #8 of 13 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $108,460 | $78,881 | $72,445 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $98,730 | $78,287 | $70,444 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $84,130 | $65,433 | $63,803 |
| 4 | Atlanta, GA | $81,990 | $62,877 | $62,841 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $87,560 | $63,597 | $60,326 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $85,260 | $64,767 | $59,822 |
| 7 | Detroit, MI | $75,760 | $59,158 | $58,982 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $75,940 | $58,640 | $56,605 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 13 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a writer and author make in Chicago, IL?
The median writer and author salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $75,940 a year, or about $36.51 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,230 and $99,990.
What is a writer and author’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $75,940 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $58,640 a year ($4,887 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,614 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a writer and author?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $76,910. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $56,605 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #8 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a writer and author afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median writer and author’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Art Director — $104,570
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film — $102,370
- Broadcast Technician — $96,060
- Technical Writer — $89,960
- Producer and Director — $85,040
- Special Effects Artist and Animator — $83,200
- Editor — $80,380
- Public Relations Specialist — $77,050
- Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner — $76,790
- Interior Designer — $76,570
- Sound Engineering Technician — $73,140
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $70,350