Salary distribution
Where Illinois writers and authors fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $49,040 and $93,600, with a median of $66,180.
Writers and Authors in Illinois: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 5 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $57,054. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 2 | $43,784 |
| Level II — qualified | 1 | $57,054 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $85,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Writers and Authors in Illinois. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOCIALDEVIANT, LLC | Junior Copywriter | 1 | $61,480 |
| Perry & Alznauer, P.C. | Legal Writer/Legal Content Specialist | 1 | $43,784 |
| Perry & Alznauer, PC | Legal Writer/Legal Content Specialist | 1 | $43,784 |
| Fluent360 LLC | Senior Copywriter | 1 | $85,000 |
| MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC | Jr. Digital Copywriter | 1 | $57,054 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Junior Copywriter at SOCIALDEVIANT, LLC$61,480ChicagoDecided Nov 14, 2025I-202-25310-382692
- Legal Writer/Legal Content Specialist at Perry & Alznauer, P.C.$43,784ChicagoWage Level IDecided Jun 20, 2025I-200-25163-087082
- Legal Writer/Legal Content Specialist at Perry & Alznauer, PC$43,784ChicagoWage Level IDecided Jun 18, 2025I-200-25162-082334
- Senior Copywriter at Fluent360 LLC$85,000ChicagoWage Level IVDecided May 6, 2025I-200-25119-918990
- Jr. Digital Copywriter at MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC$57,054ChicagoWage Level IIDecided Feb 19, 2025I-200-25042-684545
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Writers and Authors pay by experience level in Illinois
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Writers and Authors in Illinois, by industry
Median offered wage across 5 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $52,632.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | SOCIALDEVIANT, LLC | 4 | $52,632 |
| Manufacturing | MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC | 1 | $57,054 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Illinois over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
Less than 5 years
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 5.0 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.8 / 5
Writing
Basic skill
- 4.6 / 5
Written Expression
Ability
- 4.3 / 5
Sales and Marketing
Knowledge
- 4.2 / 5
Communications and Media
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Develop advertising campaigns for a wide range of clients, working with an advertising agency's creative director and art director to determine the best way to present advertising information.
- 02
Vary language and tone of messages based on product and medium.
- 03
Present drafts and ideas to clients.
- 04
Discuss with the client the product, advertising themes and methods, and any changes that should be made in advertising copy.
- 05
Review advertising trends, consumer surveys, and other data regarding marketing of goods and services to determine the best way to promote products.
- 06
Write articles, bulletins, sales letters, speeches, and other related informative, marketing and promotional material.
- 07
Conduct research and interviews to determine which of a product's selling features should be promoted.
- 08
Invent names for products and write the slogans that appear on packaging, brochures and other promotional material.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+3.6%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in Illinois
Metro-level salary data for writers and authors in major Illinois metropolitan areas.
- Chicago$69,150
Compare Writers and Authors pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Writers and Authors in Illinois?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Writers and Authors in Illinois is $66,180.
- How does Illinois compare to the national median for Writers and Authors?
- The Illinois median is +8.8% versus the BLS national figure of $60,817.
- What is the salary range for Writers and Authors in Illinois?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $36,950 and the 90th-percentile at $121,080, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Writers and Authors a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 3.6% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Writers and Authors?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.