State comparison · 2025
Writers and Authors salary: District of Columbia vs Washington
Writers and Authors in District of Columbia earn a median of $129,300. In Washington, $85,700. After cost-of-living, the gap is 46.9% — not 50.9%.
Nominal pay gap
+50.9%
District of Columbia vs Washington
COL-adjusted gap
+46.9%
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
Washington
Writers and Authors
- Median
- $85,700
- p25
- $65,330
- p75
- $109,000
- p10
- $50,600
- p90
- $129,480
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 107.0
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.