Salary report · New York, NY

What is the average Freelance Writer salary in New York, NY?

Freelance Writers in New York earn a median of $93,600 per year — about 28% above the national average. Pay ranges from $67,400 (25th percentile) to $145,100 (90th percentile).

25th percentile
$67,400
Median
$93,600
75th percentile
$119,800
90th percentile
$145,100
YoY change
+4.3%

Freelance Writer salary by experience level

Entry · 0–2 yrs
$60,800
Mid · 3–5 yrs
$93,600
Senior · 6–8 yrs
$119,800
Lead · 8+ yrs
$135,700

How New York pay compares

New York median$93,600
National median$73,150
Cost-of-living adjusted(COL index 187)$50,100

Cost-of-living adjusted is the New York salary translated into equivalent purchasing power vs the US average (COL index 100). Useful for comparing offers across cities.

5-year salary trend

$79K
2022
$83K
2023
$86K
2024
$90K
2025
$94K
2026

Trend extrapolated from BLS May 2024 BLS OEWS OEWS data using the latest year-over-year growth rate of 4.3%.

Freelance Writer job market in New York

New York hosts the country's largest concentration of finance, media, advertising and tech jobs. Salaries trend 25–40% above the national average but cost of living offsets much of the premium.

An estimated 29,200 freelance writers work in the New York 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 New York

Freelance Writer salary in other cities

FAQ

How much does a Freelance Writer make in New York, NY?+

Freelance Writers in New York earn a median of $93,600 per year — about 28% above the national average of $73,150.

What's the entry-level Freelance Writer salary in New York?+

Entry-level Freelance Writers in New York typically earn around $60,800 per year. Salaries scale to about $135,700 at the senior level with 8+ years of experience.

Is $93,600 a good Freelance Writer salary in New York?+

$93,600 is the median, meaning half of Freelance Writers in New York earn more and half earn less. Adjusted for the city's cost-of-living index of 187, that's roughly $50,100 in nationally-equivalent purchasing power.

How fast is Freelance Writer pay growing in New York?+

Freelance Writer salaries in New York grew about 4.3% year-over-year in the latest BLS data. The 10-year national outlook for this role is +4%.

Where do Freelance Writers in New York get paid the most?+

The 90th percentile Freelance Writer salary in New York is around $145,100. These typically include senior, lead, or specialist roles at major employers.

Are you being paid fairly in New York?

Run a free comparison against BLS data — see if your salary is below, at, or above the New York median.

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