What is the average Freelance Writer salary in San Francisco, CA?
Freelance Writers in San Francisco earn a median of $103,900 per year — about 42% above the national average. Pay ranges from $74,800 (25th percentile) to $161,000 (90th percentile).
Freelance Writer salary by experience level
How San Francisco pay compares
Cost-of-living adjusted is the San Francisco 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 4.3%.
Freelance Writer job market in San Francisco
San Francisco offers the highest tech salaries in the country but cost of living is brutal — particularly housing. Many roles offer remote/hybrid flexibility.
An estimated 3,100 freelance writers work in the San Francisco 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 San Francisco
Freelance Writer salary in other cities
FAQ
How much does a Freelance Writer make in San Francisco, CA?+
Freelance Writers in San Francisco earn a median of $103,900 per year — about 42% above the national average of $73,150.
What's the entry-level Freelance Writer salary in San Francisco?+
Entry-level Freelance Writers in San Francisco typically earn around $67,500 per year. Salaries scale to about $150,700 at the senior level with 8+ years of experience.
Is $103,900 a good Freelance Writer salary in San Francisco?+
$103,900 is the median, meaning half of Freelance Writers in San Francisco earn more and half earn less. Adjusted for the city's cost-of-living index of 244, that's roughly $42,600 in nationally-equivalent purchasing power.
How fast is Freelance Writer pay growing in San Francisco?+
Freelance Writer salaries in San Francisco 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 San Francisco get paid the most?+
The 90th percentile Freelance Writer salary in San Francisco is around $161,000. These typically include senior, lead, or specialist roles at major employers.
Are you being paid fairly in San Francisco?
Run a free comparison against BLS data — see if your salary is below, at, or above the San Francisco median.
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