Writers and Authors Salary in Illinois
Writers and authors in Illinois earned a median of $68,220 a year ($32.80 an hour) and a mean of $77,240 in May 2025. The median is 11.3% below the U.S. median of $76,910, ranking 20th of 44 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $68,220
- Median hourly
- $32.80
- Mean annual
- $77,240
- Jobs on record
- 2,640
Grey needle: U.S. median, $76,910 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does Illinois compare on pay for writers and authors?
Illinois ranks 20th of 44 states and territories. District of Columbia is highest at $129,300, $61,080 more than the Illinois median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | 18 | $70,190 | -9% | 110 |
| Texas | 19 | $69,990 | -9% | 2,320 |
| Illinois | 20 | $68,220 | -11% | 2,640 |
| Florida | 21 | $68,080 | -11% | 3,010 |
| Alabama | 22 | $66,950 | -13% | 180 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 44 states and territories with a published figure. See every state.
Does Illinois pay go further after prices?
Prices in Illinois are about at the U.S. average, so the $68,220 median buys about what $68,249 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $76,910 U.S. median. On this measure Illinois ranks 27th of 43, down from 20th before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in Illinois pay writers and authors the most?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is highest at $75,940, 11.3% above the Illinois median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $75,940 | 2,120 |
| West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $52,000 | 30 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Illinois is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many writers and authors work in Illinois?
BLS counts 2,640 jobs in Illinois, 5.5% of the 47,940 in the U.S. That is the 3rd largest count among the 43 states and territories with a published figure. That is 0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in Illinois, a location quotient of 1.40: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.40 times its national share, so it is more concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
How does the Illinois minimum wage compare with pay for writers and authors?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for writers and authors in Illinois was $20.11 in May 2025, $5.11 above the $15.00 minimum wage that applies there now. The pay figure dates from May 2025 and the minimum wage is the current rate, so the two are not from the same date.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated 2026-11-05; BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, 10th-percentile hourly wage.
Related jobs in Illinois
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.