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Script writer salary
Average script writer salary
$64,254
Understanding the Script Writer Salary
The average salary for a script writer in the United States is $64,254 per year, with variations based on factors such as experience level and geographic location. Entry-level script writers typically earn around $45,000, while those with significant experience can earn upwards of $85,000 annually.
Salaries by Experience Level
Experience plays a critical role in determining salary. Early-career writers might earn less, while mid-career professionals see their salaries increase to around $60,000. Senior script writers or those in top roles can command salaries exceeding $90,000.
State Salary Variations
Geographical location also impacts earnings. States like California and New York often offer higher salaries due to the concentration of media and entertainment industries. In contrast, script writers in smaller markets may see lower average salaries.
Job Opportunities in the Field
Script writers find opportunities in various sectors, including film, television, and digital media. With the rise of online streaming platforms, demand for skilled writers continues to grow, enhancing job prospects.
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Where can a Script Writer earn more?
Script writer salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level script writer | $43,600 | $20.96 |
| Mid-level script writer | $69,500 | $33.40 |
| Senior-level script writer | $95,400 | $45.85 |
Script writer salary estimates from across the web
Average script writer salary by state
The average script writer salary in Virginia, California, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average script writer salary states are Nebraska, Alabama, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for script writers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $105,089 | $50.52 |
| 2 | Virginia | $89,129 | $42.85 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $83,105 | $39.95 |
| 4 | California | $87,586 | $42.11 |
| 5 | Maryland | $77,012 | $37.02 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $77,594 | $37.30 |
| 7 | Vermont | $71,638 | $34.44 |
| 8 | Arizona | $77,600 | $37.31 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $75,758 | $36.42 |
| 10 | Michigan | $74,382 | $35.76 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $71,963 | $34.60 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $70,811 | $34.04 |
| 13 | New York | $70,048 | $33.68 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $69,193 | $33.27 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $63,123 | $30.35 |
| 16 | Delaware | $67,915 | $32.65 |
| 17 | Illinois | $68,228 | $32.80 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $65,962 | $31.71 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $71,071 | $34.17 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $66,577 | $32.01 |
| 21 | Washington | $66,786 | $32.11 |
| 22 | Oregon | $64,046 | $30.79 |
| 23 | Nevada | $61,615 | $29.62 |
| 24 | Ohio | $65,799 | $31.63 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $63,821 | $30.68 |
| 26 | Montana | $60,254 | $28.97 |
| 27 | Alaska | $55,066 | $26.47 |
| 28 | Utah | $54,761 | $26.33 |
| 29 | Texas | $57,274 | $27.54 |
| 30 | Missouri | $57,965 | $27.87 |
| 31 | Colorado | $58,023 | $27.90 |
| 32 | Florida | $56,740 | $27.28 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $57,460 | $27.63 |
| 34 | Georgia | $56,041 | $26.94 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $55,563 | $26.71 |
| 36 | Kansas | $54,784 | $26.34 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $53,254 | $25.60 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $54,965 | $26.43 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $55,801 | $26.83 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $53,577 | $25.76 |
| 41 | Maine | $56,140 | $26.99 |
| 42 | Iowa | $54,818 | $26.35 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $54,281 | $26.10 |
| 44 | Indiana | $53,453 | $25.70 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $56,072 | $26.96 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $53,750 | $25.84 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $52,428 | $25.21 |
| 48 | Alabama | $52,864 | $25.42 |
| 49 | Idaho | $51,027 | $24.53 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $50,295 | $24.18 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $49,596 | $23.84 |
Highest paying cities for script writers
The highest-paying cities for script writers are Pleasanton, CA, Minneapolis, MN, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pleasanton, CA | $92,076 | $44.27 |
| 2 | Minneapolis, MN | $70,858 | $34.07 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $70,376 | $33.83 |
| 4 | Durham, NC | $67,695 | $32.55 |
| 5 | Hillsboro, OR | $64,111 | $30.82 |
| 6 | San Antonio, TX | $58,372 | $28.06 |
| 7 | Miami, FL | $56,000 | $26.92 |
| 8 | North Charleston, SC | $53,182 | $25.57 |
| 9 | Little Rock, AR | $52,383 | $25.18 |
Script writer salary details
A script writer's salary ranges from $38,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $106,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a script writer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $106,000 | $8,833 | $51 |
| 75th Percentile | $83,000 | $6,917 | $40 |
| Average | $64,254 | $5,355 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| 10th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
Highest paying script writer jobs
The highest paying types of script writers are senior technical trainer, medical writer, and contract writer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Writer And Editor | $61,482 | $5,124 | $29.56 | 14,865 |
| Writer/Producer | $55,163 | $4,597 | $26.52 | 20,026 |
| Technical Writer And Editor | $65,088 | $5,424 | $31.29 | 78,617 |
| Technical Writer/Trainer | $62,509 | $5,209 | $30.05 | 98,845 |
| Research Writer | $50,741 | $4,228 | $24.39 | 60,595 |
| Feature Writer | $35,590 | $2,966 | $17.11 | 10,279 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for script writers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Paul Mitchell Ph.D.
Coordinator of Recruitment and Retention, University of Nevada - Reno
Top companies hiring script writers now:
Which companies pay script writers the most?
Script writer salaries at Snap and LanceSoft are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average script writer salary at companies like InfosysPublicService and Goldbelt Falcon are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snap | $104,682 | $50.33 |
| 2 | LanceSoft | $99,135 | $47.66 |
| 3 | Infosys Public Service | $96,227 | $46.26 |
| 4 | Goldbelt Falcon | $94,695 | $45.53 |
| 5 | Wipro Limited | $68,383 | $32.88 |
| 6 | Scientific Research | $65,810 | $31.64 |
| 7 | Edmunds Holding Company Inc | $64,630 | $31.07 |
| 8 | Prescient Edge | $64,111 | $30.82 |
| 9 | Strategic Management Partners | $56,492 | $27.16 |
| 10 | NC.gov | $44,665 | $21.47 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Script Writer salary by industry
The average script writer salary varies across industries:
- The average script writer salary in the technology industry is $79,928, the highest of any industry.
- The average script writer salary in the finance industry is $61,268.
- Script writers in the manufacturing industry earn an average salary of $49,605, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for script writers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $79,928 | $38.43 |
| 2 | Finance | $61,268 | $29.46 |
| 3 | Professional | $58,708 | $28.23 |
| 4 | Media | $57,969 | $27.87 |
| 5 | Non Profits | $56,056 | $26.95 |
| 6 | Manufacturing | $49,605 | $23.85 |
High paying script writer jobs
Script writer salary trends
The average script writer salary has risen by $8,642 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average script writer earned $55,612 annually, but today, they earn $64,254 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for script writers over the last decade.
Compare script writer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average script writer salary over time
Compare script writer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Script writer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $64,300 | $30.89 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $62,700 | $30.15 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $61,800 | $29.73 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $61,100 | $29.35 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | $60,100 | $28.90 | -0.6% |
Recently added script writer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northrop Grumman | Cyber Scripter Storyline Writer | Leavenworth, KS | 04/24/2025 | $71,600 |
| Northrop Grumman | Cyber Scripter Storyline Writer | Leavenworth, KS | 03/28/2025 | $71,600 |
| Catface | Video Script Writer | Austin, TX | 02/16/2025 | $65,000 |
| Abt | Script Writer | Glenview, IL | 02/15/2025 | $62,610 |
| Apple | Instructional Video Script Writer, Applecare Service Content | Sunnyvale, CA | 01/30/2025 | $140,700 |
| Apple | Instructional Video Script Writer, Applecare Service Content | Sunnyvale, CA | 01/28/2025 | $140,700 |
| Francis Tuttle Technology Center | Event Host'); Document.Write(' | Oklahoma City, OK | 09/14/2024 | $28,175 |
| Janus Research Group Inc. | Script Writer | San Antonio, TX | 05/17/2024 | $60,000 |
| Janus Research Group Inc. | Script Writer | San Antonio, TX | 05/17/2024 | $60,000 |
| Cape Henry Associates | Script Writer | San Antonio, TX | 05/17/2024 | $60,000 |
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