Authors, writers and translators roles in the UK earn a median of £38,000 per year, equivalent to £20.04 per hour as of 2025. Pay increased 12.2% compared to the previous year. Regionally, pay ranges from £28,500 in Wales to £41,500 in North West. Pay has risen over the past 5 years. The ONS national median for this occupation is £39,459/yr (4% below our computed national average).
Median Annual Pay
£38,000
as of 2025
High confidenceMedian Hourly Pay
£20.04
per hour
Year-on-Year Change
+12.2%
vs 2024
Annual Pay Range
£31,000 – £
25th – 75th percentile
There is currently not sufficient data available for this occupation to say anything about the labour market.
Median annual pay for Authors, writers and translators across UK regions.
Source: ONS ASHE. Based on broad UK regions (NUTS1).
| Region | Median Pay |
|---|---|
| North West | £41,500 |
| South West | £41,500 |
| East | £40,500 |
| London | £40,500 |
| Scotland | £40,000 |
| South East | £38,000 |
| East Midlands | £37,500 |
| North East | £37,000 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £37,000 |
| West Midlands | £31,500 |
| Wales | £28,500 |
| UK | £38,000 |
Annual pay grew by +12.2% from 2024 to 2025.
National average (NUTS1 actuals) based on ONS ASHE April snapshot.
Annual percentage change in median pay for Authors, writers and translators.
Percentage change from the prior year's April figure.
The median salary for a Authors, writers and translators in the UK is £38,000 per year (about £20.04 per hour), based on official ONS data for 2025.
Most Authors, writers and translators earn between £31,000 and £ a year (the 25th to 75th percentile of UK pay).
Authors, writers and translators pay rose by 12.2% from 2024 to 2025.
The highest median pay for Authors, writers and translators is in North West, at £41,500 per year.
For job seekers
Check your salary against official UK data for Authors, writers and translators roles — broken down by region and seniority level. Free, instant, no sign-up required.
For employers & recruiters
Authors, writers and translators write, edit and evaluate literary material for publication excluding material for newspapers, magazines and other periodicals but including scripts and narrative for film, TV, radio and computer games and animations; and translate spoken and written statements into different languages.
Entry is possible with a variety of academic qualifications and/or relevant experience. Postgraduate and professional qualifications are available and are required for some occupations.
Salary data is sourced from official UK pay datasets and updated periodically.