State comparison · 2025
Writers and Authors salary: California vs District of Columbia
Writers and Authors in District of Columbia earn a median of $129,300. In California, $86,480. After cost-of-living, the gap is 33.6% — not 33.1%.
Nominal pay gap
-33.1%
California vs District of Columbia
COL-adjusted gap
-33.6%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Writers and Authors
- Median
- $86,480
- p25
- $75,530
- p75
- $127,870
- p10
- $56,730
- p90
- $193,080
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -91%
District of Columbia
Writers and Authors
- Median
- $129,300
- p25
- $100,320
- p75
- $158,020
- p10
- $74,990
- p90
- $172,480
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 109.9
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.