What is the average Freelance Writer salary in Los Angeles, CA?
Freelance Writers in Los Angeles earn a median of $84,100 per year — about 15% above the national average. Pay ranges from $60,600 (25th percentile) to $130,400 (90th percentile).
Freelance Writer salary by experience level
How Los Angeles pay compares
Cost-of-living adjusted is the Los Angeles salary translated into equivalent purchasing power vs the US average (COL index 100). Useful for comparing offers across cities.
5-year salary trend
Trend extrapolated from BLS May 2024 BLS OEWS OEWS data using the latest year-over-year growth rate of 3.5%.
Freelance Writer job market in Los Angeles
LA is the entertainment and aerospace capital of the US, with strong tech and healthcare sectors. Salaries run 15–30% above national average; California state taxes are among the highest.
An estimated 13,900 freelance writers work in the Los Angeles metro. Daily responsibilities typically include:
- Research and write articles
- Pitch new clients
- Edit and revise drafts
- Invoice clients
- Manage editorial calendars
Related job salaries in Los Angeles
Freelance Writer salary in other cities
FAQ
How much does a Freelance Writer make in Los Angeles, CA?+
Freelance Writers in Los Angeles earn a median of $84,100 per year — about 15% above the national average of $73,150.
What's the entry-level Freelance Writer salary in Los Angeles?+
Entry-level Freelance Writers in Los Angeles typically earn around $54,700 per year. Salaries scale to about $121,900 at the senior level with 8+ years of experience.
Is $84,100 a good Freelance Writer salary in Los Angeles?+
$84,100 is the median, meaning half of Freelance Writers in Los Angeles earn more and half earn less. Adjusted for the city's cost-of-living index of 173, that's roughly $48,600 in nationally-equivalent purchasing power.
How fast is Freelance Writer pay growing in Los Angeles?+
Freelance Writer salaries in Los Angeles grew about 3.5% year-over-year in the latest BLS data. The 10-year national outlook for this role is +4%.
Where do Freelance Writers in Los Angeles get paid the most?+
The 90th percentile Freelance Writer salary in Los Angeles is around $130,400. These typically include senior, lead, or specialist roles at major employers.
Are you being paid fairly in Los Angeles?
Run a free comparison against BLS data — see if your salary is below, at, or above the Los Angeles median.
Check my salary →