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Best states for a writer
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Tristan Abbott Ph.D.
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Do you want to become a writer at Odyssey, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for writers that you can check out, before you begin your journey. Our research found that Massachusetts is the best state for writers, while Massachusetts and California are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Massachusetts has a median salary of $91,233 and Massachusetts has the highest median salary among all 50 states for writers.
We figured that the best places for writer jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.If you are currently seeking employment as a writer, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for writers in 2026
1. Massachusetts
Total writer jobs: 398 Average annual salary: $91,233 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
2. Vermont
Total writer jobs: 40 Average annual salary: $83,026 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location Quotient: 1.61
3. District of Columbia
Total writer jobs: 220 Average annual salary: $87,497 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location Quotient: 4.04
4. California
Total writer jobs: 1,147 Average annual salary: $86,149 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
5. Washington
Total writer jobs: 281 Average annual salary: $80,273 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
6. North Dakota
Total writer jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $85,420 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
7. New Jersey
Total writer jobs: 282 Average annual salary: $77,891 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
8. New York
Total writer jobs: 859 Average annual salary: $72,814 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 2.07
9. Idaho
Total writer jobs: 59 Average annual salary: $69,173 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
10. Connecticut
Total writer jobs: 107 Average annual salary: $74,008 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location Quotient: 1
Writer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a writer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a writer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $91,233 | $54,000 | 6,859,819 | 398 |
| 2 | Vermont | $83,026 | $49,000 | 623,657 | 40 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $87,497 | $52,000 | 693,972 | 220 |
| 4 | California | $86,149 | $50,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,147 |
| 5 | Washington | $80,273 | $48,000 | 7,405,743 | 281 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $85,420 | $53,000 | 755,393 | 28 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $77,891 | $46,000 | 9,005,644 | 282 |
| 8 | New York | $72,814 | $43,000 | 19,849,399 | 859 |
| 9 | Idaho | $69,173 | $41,000 | 1,716,943 | 59 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $74,008 | $43,000 | 3,588,184 | 107 |
| 11 | Montana | $68,058 | $42,000 | 1,050,493 | 40 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $71,882 | $42,000 | 12,805,537 | 278 |
| 13 | Illinois | $70,421 | $42,000 | 12,802,023 | 368 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $67,105 | $40,000 | 10,273,419 | 305 |
| 15 | South Dakota | $67,542 | $41,000 | 869,666 | 27 |
| 16 | Oregon | $65,565 | $39,000 | 4,142,776 | 218 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $62,461 | $38,000 | 579,315 | 42 |
| 18 | Virginia | $65,503 | $39,000 | 8,470,020 | 464 |
| 19 | Iowa | $68,687 | $41,000 | 3,145,711 | 68 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $65,484 | $39,000 | 1,815,857 | 35 |
| 21 | Delaware | $65,049 | $38,000 | 961,939 | 45 |
| 22 | Nevada | $61,020 | $36,000 | 2,998,039 | 79 |
| 23 | Maryland | $62,437 | $37,000 | 6,052,177 | 372 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $64,835 | $39,000 | 5,576,606 | 166 |
| 25 | Kansas | $63,440 | $38,000 | 2,913,123 | 67 |
| 26 | Rhode Island | $61,417 | $36,000 | 1,059,639 | 41 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $64,154 | $38,000 | 5,024,369 | 89 |
| 28 | Maine | $60,995 | $36,000 | 1,335,907 | 35 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $61,906 | $37,000 | 4,454,189 | 64 |
| 30 | Indiana | $61,435 | $36,000 | 6,666,818 | 135 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $59,166 | $35,000 | 2,088,070 | 54 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $58,895 | $35,000 | 5,795,483 | 137 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $59,761 | $35,000 | 6,715,984 | 117 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $58,025 | $35,000 | 3,004,279 | 58 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $56,986 | $33,000 | 1,342,795 | 58 |
| 36 | Arizona | $59,087 | $35,000 | 7,016,270 | 133 |
| 37 | Alaska | $48,485 | $34,000 | 739,795 | 38 |
| 38 | Utah | $49,861 | $30,000 | 3,101,833 | 132 |
| 39 | Texas | $56,445 | $33,000 | 28,304,596 | 530 |
| 40 | Colorado | $56,383 | $34,000 | 5,607,154 | 176 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $49,610 | $30,000 | 1,920,076 | 82 |
| 42 | Ohio | $56,764 | $33,000 | 11,658,609 | 169 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $54,870 | $33,000 | 3,930,864 | 72 |
| 44 | Alabama | $56,852 | $33,000 | 4,874,747 | 82 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $57,845 | $34,000 | 4,684,333 | 43 |
| 46 | Georgia | $56,337 | $33,000 | 10,429,379 | 231 |
| 47 | Missouri | $49,401 | $29,000 | 6,113,532 | 154 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $39,420 | $29,000 | 1,427,538 | 29 |
| 49 | Michigan | $46,201 | $27,000 | 9,962,311 | 185 |
| 50 | Florida | $42,791 | $25,000 | 20,984,400 | 389 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $43,974 | $26,000 | 2,984,100 | 34 |
Highest paying states for writers
| Rank | State | Avg. Writer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $91,233 |
| 2 | Vermont | $83,026 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $87,497 |
| 4 | California | $86,149 |
| 5 | Washington | $80,273 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $85,420 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $77,891 |
| 8 | New York | $72,814 |
| 9 | Idaho | $69,173 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $74,008 |
| 11 | Montana | $68,058 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $71,882 |
| 13 | Illinois | $70,421 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $67,105 |
| 15 | South Dakota | $67,542 |
| 16 | Oregon | $65,565 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $62,461 |
| 18 | Virginia | $65,503 |
| 19 | Iowa | $68,687 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $65,484 |
| 21 | Delaware | $65,049 |
| 22 | Nevada | $61,020 |
| 23 | Maryland | $62,437 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $64,835 |
| 25 | Kansas | $63,440 |
| 26 | Rhode Island | $61,417 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $64,154 |
| 28 | Maine | $60,995 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $61,906 |
| 30 | Indiana | $61,435 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $59,166 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $58,895 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $59,761 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $58,025 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $56,986 |
| 36 | Arizona | $59,087 |
| 37 | Alaska | $48,485 |
| 38 | Utah | $49,861 |
| 39 | Texas | $56,445 |
| 40 | Colorado | $56,383 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $49,610 |
| 42 | Ohio | $56,764 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $54,870 |
| 44 | Alabama | $56,852 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $57,845 |
| 46 | Georgia | $56,337 |
| 47 | Missouri | $49,401 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $39,420 |
| 49 | Michigan | $46,201 |
| 50 | Florida | $42,791 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $43,974 |
Expert opinions on the best states for writers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for writers to find work opportunities?
Tristan Abbott Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and Writing Center Director, Morgan State University
Are you referring to specific academic disciplines or geographic areas? Hiring appears to be at a standstill for everyone, everywhere.
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Updated January 8, 2025