State comparison · 2025
Writers and Authors salary: Maryland vs South Dakota
Writers and Authors in Maryland earn a median of $104,330. In South Dakota, $56,700. After cost-of-living, the gap is 55.3% — not 84%.
Nominal pay gap
+84%
Maryland vs South Dakota
COL-adjusted gap
+55.3%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
Maryland
Writers and Authors
- Median
- $104,330
- p25
- $77,020
- p75
- $140,670
- p10
- $59,560
- p90
- $165,050
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 105.0
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.