Writers and Authors: 47,940 jobs, median pay $76,910 · where the jobs are in the U.S.

47,940

Jobs in the U.S.

People employed, May 2025

$76,910

Median pay a year

Middle half: $58,230–$101,950

11,900

Annual openings

10-year change: −0.3%

LCA filings, last 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 133 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings

New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay n/a · LCA filings 107,220n/a10

Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $75,940 · LCA filings 32,120$75,9403

Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $108,460 · LCA filings 12,060$108,4601

San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAMedian pay n/a · LCA filings 61,560n/a6

Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLMedian pay $66,470 · LCA filings 21,270$66,4702

Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHMedian pay $85,260 · LCA filings 01,130$85,2600

Denver–Aurora–Centennial, COMedian pay $69,100 · LCA filings 0860$69,1000

Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $64,520 · LCA filings 1850$64,5201

Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro, OR–WAMedian pay $87,560 · LCA filings 2600$87,5602

Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WIMedian pay $76,470 · LCA filings 0570$76,4700

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings

Waterbury–Shelton, CTEmployment 50 · LCA filings 0$127,350500

San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployment 400 · LCA filings 2$118,8104002

Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVEmployment 2,060 · LCA filings 1$108,4602,0601

Santa Rosa–Petaluma, CAEmployment 50 · LCA filings 0$107,700500

Bridgeport–Stamford–Danbury, CTEmployment 150 · LCA filings 0$103,0601500

Metro areas with the most LCA filings

Labor Condition Applications filed by employers with the U.S. Department of Labor, Apr 2025–Mar 2026. They’re used in the H-1B process and show filing history, not hires or current job openings.

Metro areaLCA filingsEmployers with LCA filingsEmployment

New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJEmployers with LCA filings 9 · Employment 7,2201097,220

San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployers with LCA filings 6 · Employment 1,560661,560

Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INEmployers with LCA filings 2 · Employment 2,120322,120

Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLEmployers with LCA filings 2 · Employment 1,270221,270

Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro, OR–WAEmployers with LCA filings 2 · Employment 60022600

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV

New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $67,496 · Level III $85,904 · Level IV $104,312$49,088$67,496$85,904$104,312

Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $62,878 · Level III $80,330 · Level IV $97,781$45,427$62,878$80,330$97,781

Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $96,366 · Level III $117,853 · Level IV $139,360$74,859$96,366$117,853$139,360

San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CALevel II $84,282 · Level III $106,330 · Level IV $128,398$62,213$84,282$106,330$128,398

Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLLevel II $57,013 · Level III $69,077 · Level IV $81,162$44,928$57,013$69,077$81,162

Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHLevel II $78,312 · Level III $94,411 · Level IV $110,510$62,213$78,312$94,411$110,510

Denver–Aurora–Centennial, COLevel II $61,568 · Level III $77,646 · Level IV $93,746$45,469$61,568$77,646$93,746

Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $64,355 · Level III $78,749 · Level IV $93,163$49,941$64,355$78,749$93,163

Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro, OR–WALevel II $74,277 · Level III $93,891 · Level IV $113,485$54,683$74,277$93,891$113,485

Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WILevel II $68,078 · Level III $78,770 · Level IV $89,482$57,366$68,078$78,770$89,482

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing StudiesCIP 23.13OPT · up to 12 months388OPT · up to 12 months

English Language and Literature, GeneralCIP 23.01OPT · up to 12 months625OPT · up to 12 months

JournalismCIP 09.04OPT · up to 12 months416OPT · up to 12 months

Communication and Media StudiesCIP 09.01OPT · up to 12 months2,473OPT · up to 12 months

See Writers and Authors in every metro area

All 133 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

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Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology