Writer salary
From 69 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 27-3043: Writers and Authors
At a glance
- Mostly Level I (entry-level). 49% of Writer filings are Level I, compared with 19% across all H-1B filings.
- Median up 32% since FY2020. From $62,670 in FY2020 to $83,000 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Writer H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 69 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Writer jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 27-3043, Writers and Authors). The median base salary is $72,800, 41% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $59,488 and $100,000. The most common wage level is Level I (entry-level), at 49% of filings.
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 49% of filings
Mid-level · 32% of filings
Senior · 19% of filings
Expert · 0% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $60,278 | 29 |
| Level II · Qualified | $68,000 | 19 |
| Level III · Experienced | $120,000 | 11 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Writer pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 2 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $77,077 | 18 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $74,320 | 10 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Writer does
Originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material.
Typical tasks
- Write fiction or nonfiction prose, such as short stories, novels, biographies, articles, descriptive or critical analyses, and essays.
- Revise written material to meet personal standards and to satisfy needs of clients, publishers, directors, or producers.
- Present drafts and ideas to clients.
- Edit or rewrite existing written material as necessary, and submit written material for approval by supervisor, editor, or publisher.
- Conduct research to obtain factual information and authentic detail, using sources such as newspaper accounts, diaries, and interviews.
- Vary language and tone of messages based on product and medium.
Preparation
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
O*NET occupation: Writers and Authors (27-3043.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Writers and Authors), the median annual wage was $76,910 in May 2025, with 47,940 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $72,800, 5% lower.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $51,800 | $44,310 |
| 25th percentile | $59,488 | $58,230 |
| Median | $72,800 | $76,910 |
| 75th percentile | $100,000 | $101,950 |
| 90th percentile | $138,206 | $139,870 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $51,800 |
| 25th | $59,488 |
| 50th (median) | $72,800 |
| 75th | $100,000 |
| 90th | $138,206 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $62,670 | $47,965 | $83,200 | 61 |
| FY2021 | $85,000 | $60,000 | $125,000 | 49 |
| FY2022 | $70,000 | $56,982 | $90,000 | 51 |
| FY2023 | $72,000 | $62,000 | $100,000 | 33 |
| FY2024 | $66,500 | $61,240 | $99,759 | 28 |
| FY2025 | $61,700 | $53,945 | $90,000 | 46 |
| FY2026 | $83,000 | $71,400 | $119,300 | 23 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Writer make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Writer jobs is $72,800 (69 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $59,488 and $100,000.
What does an entry-level Writer earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $60,278. Level I accounts for 49% of Writer filings.
Do H-1B Writers earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($72,800) is 5% lower than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($76,910, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.