State comparison · 2025
Writers and Authors salary: District of Columbia vs Illinois
Writers and Authors in District of Columbia earn a median of $129,300. In Illinois, $68,220. After cost-of-living, the gap is 72.5% — not 89.5%.
Nominal pay gap
+89.5%
District of Columbia vs Illinois
COL-adjusted gap
+72.5%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
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
Illinois
Writers and Authors
- Median
- $68,220
- p25
- $43,440
- p75
- $97,280
- p10
- $41,830
- p90
- $134,400
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 100.0
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- +50%
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.