Career Atlas USA

Best States for Writers and Authors

Ranked by the Career Atlas Opportunity Score, not raw pay — a high-paying state with few jobs or a high cost of living can rank below a more balanced one.

  1. 1District of Columbia90.6 / 100
  2. 2California83.1 / 100
  3. 3Virginia80.6 / 100
  4. 4Oregon79 / 100
  5. 5Massachusetts77.7 / 100
  6. 6Colorado75.3 / 100
  7. 7Vermont72.4 / 100
  8. 8Connecticut71 / 100
  9. 9Louisiana70.6 / 100
  10. 10Illinois66.6 / 100
  11. 11New Jersey66 / 100
  12. 12Maryland60.7 / 100
  13. 13Washington60.5 / 100
  14. 14North Carolina60.3 / 100
  15. 15Tennessee59.5 / 100

Also see highest-paying states (ranked by salary alone).