How Much Money Do Writers Earn or Make?
How much money do writers make in the USA?
Four years ago, in 2022, The Authors Guild led a study or survey of professional American writers.
Among the 5,699 survey respondents, from their book sales alone—not counting writing-related work such as speaking fees, teaching or other income—the median author wage was $2,100 a year.
That’s way, way below the national poverty rate. So no surprise that most of us writers gladly work a second job or day job or a side hustle.
On Being a Writer with a Day Job: What Day Job Works Best?
Which is better? Using our editorial and interviewing skills to get a day job that supports our creative writing? Or snagging a non-writing job to save our creative juices for creative writing?
Among all the writers I interviewed for my book, Writer With a Day Job (Random House, 2011), there was a wide, wide variety of day jobs.
One interviewee worked as a ghost writer. One taught writing classes. One did PR writing for a financial company. Another worked as a hospital-based nurse. Another worked in a shoe store.
How Much Do Freelance Business Writers Make?
I’ve done my share of freelance business writing and editing—mainly (but not exclusively) for non-profit clients in healthcare. I like healthcare. I like science. I love interviewing patients and families, donors and clinicians.
I’ve also had some wonderful clients, and this work has helped to pay my bills and given me exposure to many different areas of life, healthcare and writing styles.
But if you’re starting out, how much should you charge your business or non-profit clients?
For some guidance, check out the Editorial Freelancer’s Association’s website, including their “Editorial Rates” page.
Writers with Day Jobs: Nothing New Here!
The New York Public Library lists 10 famous writers, including Agatha Christie and Charles Dickens, who all worked non-writing day jobs. These roles included a barista, a lawyer, an exterminator, car salesperson, a doctor, a governess and a telephone company employee.
Can you guess which contemporary author once worked as a barista?
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About 10 years ago, following a national conference in New York (yes, I was a presenter there), one writer’s post-conference review made me chuckle:
“At the writer’s conference, speaker after speaker basically said, ‘I always wanted to write, but I had to work, but then I married a rich guy and quit my job and now I can write.’
Several of us wondered how to sign up for the ‘find a rich guy’ break-out session.”
So to all you 2026 and 2027 conference organizers: Please take note (smile) and plan accordingly (smile again).
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