Writer and Author Salary in Seattle, WA
Writers and Authors in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $98,730 a year — 28% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $78,287 take-home, or $6,524 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median writer and author salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,891
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,121
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,432
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$78,287
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Writer and Author pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,540 | $29.11 | $50,824 | $4,235 |
| 25th percentile | $79,610 | $38.27 | $64,836 | $5,403 |
| Median (50th) | $98,730 | $47.47 | $78,287 | $6,524 |
| 75th percentile | $119,030 | $57.23 | $92,568 | $7,714 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $136,720 | $65.73 | $104,714 | $8,726 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $98,730 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median writer and author's $78,287 take-home pay has the buying power of $70,444 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Writer and Author jobs are less concentrated in Seattle, WA than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for writers and authors, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #2 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 Seattle, WA?
The median writer and author salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $98,730 a year, or about $47.47 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $79,610 and $119,030.
What is a writer and author’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $98,730 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $78,287 a year ($6,524 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a writer and author?
Pay here is 28% above the national median of $76,910. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $70,444 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #2 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a writer and author afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 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 Seattle, WA
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- Producer and Director — $86,680
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- Audio and Video Technician — $69,270
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