State comparison · 2025
Writers and Authors salary: District of Columbia vs South Dakota
Writers and Authors in District of Columbia earn a median of $129,300. In South Dakota, $56,700. After cost-of-living, the gap is 83.8% — not 128%.
Nominal pay gap
+128%
District of Columbia vs South Dakota
COL-adjusted gap
+83.8%
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
South Dakota
Writers and Authors
- Median
- $56,700
- p25
- $54,080
- p75
- $59,710
- p10
- $45,760
- p90
- $68,890
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 88.6
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.