Best cities for an author
The best cities for authors are Boston, MA, San Francisco, CA, and Los Angeles, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for authors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for authors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an author or considering a move, this list of the best cities for authors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for authors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an author. While the absolute best city for authors is Boston, MA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for authors in 2024.
If you're looking for an author job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for authors in 2026
1. Boston, MA
Total author jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $115,186 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 1.88 2. San Francisco, CA
Total author jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $117,915 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 0.67 3. Los Angeles, CA
Total author jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $111,772 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location quotient: 1.57 4. Oakland, CA
Total author jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $117,763 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Fremont, CA
Total author jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $117,587 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. San Jose, CA
Total author jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $117,493 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Stockton, CA
Total author jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $117,077 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $178,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Sacramento, CA
Total author jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $117,015 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $178,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Long Beach, CA
Total author jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $111,452 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Anaheim, CA
Total author jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $111,343 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for authors
- Boston, MA
- San Francisco, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Stockton, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Long Beach, CA
- Anaheim, CA
- (2 author jobs)
- (1 author jobs)
- (2 author jobs)
- (0 author jobs)
- (0 author jobs)
- (0 author jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for an author
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $115,186 | $77,000 | 673,184 | 2 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $117,915 | $77,000 | 870,887 | 1 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $111,772 | $72,000 | 3,976,322 | 2 |
| 4 | Oakland, CA | $117,763 | $77,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 5 | Fremont, CA | $117,587 | $76,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $117,493 | $76,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 7 | Stockton, CA | $117,077 | $76,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $117,015 | $76,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 9 | Long Beach, CA | $111,452 | $72,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 10 | Anaheim, CA | $111,343 | $72,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 11 | Fresno, CA | $115,671 | $75,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 12 | Santa Ana, CA | $111,262 | $72,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 13 | Bakersfield, CA | $113,523 | $73,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 14 | Irvine, CA | $111,170 | $72,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 15 | Riverside, CA | $111,111 | $72,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 16 | Philadelphia, PA | $84,385 | $56,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 17 | Nashville, TN | $74,628 | $47,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 18 | San Diego, CA | $110,444 | $71,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 19 | Charlotte, NC | $80,373 | $51,000 | 842,051 | 4 |
| 20 | Chula Vista, CA | $110,333 | $71,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 21 | Pittsburgh, PA | $82,653 | $54,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 22 | Raleigh, NC | $82,950 | $53,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 23 | Seattle, WA | $93,767 | $65,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 24 | Durham, NC | $82,885 | $53,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 25 | San Antonio, TX | $79,049 | $49,000 | 1,492,510 | 3 |
| 26 | Greensboro, NC | $82,155 | $52,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 27 | Winston-Salem, NC | $81,719 | $52,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 28 | New Orleans, LA | $81,088 | $49,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 29 | Jersey City, NJ | $93,802 | $62,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 30 | Newark, NJ | $93,768 | $62,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 31 | Lexington, KY | $74,087 | $47,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 32 | Houston, TX | $78,709 | $48,000 | 2,303,482 | 1 |
| 33 | El Paso, TX | $79,933 | $51,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 34 | Wichita, KS | $77,000 | $50,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 35 | Laredo, TX | $78,441 | $48,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 36 | Memphis, TN | $73,450 | $46,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 37 | Indianapolis, IN | $72,294 | $47,000 | 855,164 | 2 |
| 38 | Chicago, IL | $84,083 | $55,000 | 2,704,958 | 2 |
| 39 | Austin, TX | $79,078 | $49,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 40 | Corpus Christi, TX | $78,205 | $48,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 41 | Washington, DC | $102,567 | $67,000 | 681,170 | - |
| 42 | Fort Worth, TX | $77,999 | $48,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 43 | Louisville, KY | $73,224 | $47,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 44 | Lubbock, TX | $78,643 | $49,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 45 | Arlington, TX | $77,947 | $48,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 46 | Fort Wayne, IN | $73,928 | $48,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 47 | Dallas, TX | $77,687 | $48,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 48 | Irving, TX | $77,642 | $48,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 49 | Albuquerque, NM | $77,874 | $50,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 50 | Garland, TX | $77,350 | $48,000 | 234,943 | - |
Highest paying cities for authors
| Rank | City | Avg. author salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beverly, MA | $114,747 |
| 2 | Burbank, CA | $111,845 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $93,767 |
| 4 | Hackensack, NJ | $93,710 |
| 5 | Hartford, CT | $88,584 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $84,561 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $84,385 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $84,083 |
| 9 | Charlotte, NC | $80,373 |
| 10 | Minnetonka, MN | $79,213 |
| 11 | Houston, TX | $78,709 |
| 12 | Reston, VA | $77,890 |
| 13 | Overland Park, KS | $77,401 |
| 14 | Tucson, AZ | $73,912 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $72,746 |
| 16 | Indianapolis, IN | $72,294 |
| 17 | Saint Louis, MO | $59,449 |
| 18 | Salt Lake City, UT | $58,361 |
| 19 | Saint Clair Shores, MI | $55,426 |
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Updated January 8, 2025