Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Writer's pay go, state by state?
A Writer's pay leaves the most room in New York — about $6,407/mo take-home against $1,621/mo typical rent — and the least in South Carolina.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $6,407/mo | $1,621/mo | 25% |
| Maryland | $6,355/mo | $1,683/mo | 26% |
| District of Columbia | $6,129/mo | $1,900/mo | 31% |
| California | $6,139/mo | $1,969/mo | 32% |
| Maine | $5,089/mo | $1,104/mo | 22% |
| Oregon | $5,354/mo | $1,431/mo | 27% |
| Washington | $5,299/mo | $1,641/mo | 31% |
| Georgia | $4,839/mo | $1,320/mo | 27% |
| Louisiana | $4,511/mo | $1,028/mo | 23% |
| Virginia | $5,001/mo | $1,547/mo | 31% |
| Idaho | $4,582/mo | $1,163/mo | 25% |
| Vermont | $4,549/mo | $1,207/mo | 27% |
| Minnesota | $4,549/mo | $1,230/mo | 27% |
| Colorado | $4,951/mo | $1,659/mo | 34% |
| Kentucky | $4,204/mo | $918/mo | 22% |
| New Jersey | $4,941/mo | $1,656/mo | 34% |
| Massachusetts | $4,884/mo | $1,716/mo | 35% |
| Kansas | $4,150/mo | $1,025/mo | 25% |
| Alabama | $4,057/mo | $967/mo | 24% |
| North Carolina | $4,194/mo | $1,147/mo | 27% |
| Nebraska | $4,050/mo | $1,017/mo | 25% |
| Connecticut | $4,469/mo | $1,483/mo | 33% |
| Rhode Island | $4,224/mo | $1,289/mo | 31% |
| Pennsylvania | $4,063/mo | $1,176/mo | 29% |
| Indiana | $3,894/mo | $1,022/mo | 26% |
| Texas | $4,194/mo | $1,328/mo | 32% |
| Missouri | $3,859/mo | $997/mo | 26% |
| South Dakota | $3,672/mo | $910/mo | 25% |
| Illinois | $3,981/mo | $1,246/mo | 31% |
| Tennessee | $3,824/mo | $1,111/mo | 29% |
| Wisconsin | $3,697/mo | $1,033/mo | 28% |
| Ohio | $3,643/mo | $986/mo | 27% |
| North Dakota | $3,563/mo | $911/mo | 26% |
| Iowa | $3,517/mo | $932/mo | 26% |
| Nevada | $4,024/mo | $1,478/mo | 37% |
| Delaware | $3,848/mo | $1,321/mo | 34% |
| Montana | $3,453/mo | $1,031/mo | 30% |
| Oklahoma | $3,346/mo | $970/mo | 29% |
| Hawaii | $4,290/mo | $1,927/mo | 45% |
| Arizona | $3,756/mo | $1,419/mo | 38% |
| West Virginia | $3,145/mo | $848/mo | 27% |
| Florida | $3,682/mo | $1,542/mo | 42% |
| Arkansas | $3,022/mo | $903/mo | 30% |
| Michigan | $3,150/mo | $1,072/mo | 34% |
| Utah | $3,453/mo | $1,396/mo | 40% |
| Mississippi | $2,971/mo | $933/mo | 31% |
| South Carolina | $2,934/mo | $1,131/mo | 39% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.