Authors Guild 2023 Author Income Study Results Summary

Note (Oct 17, 2023): The African American Author Analysis will be available in a few weeks.

The Authors Guild in collaboration with 36 other organizations including Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group, IngramSpark, B&N Press, PEN America, African American Literature Book Club and many others, has conducted the most comprehensive author income study to date in the United States.

A total of 5,699 published author participated, and the survey sample was meticulously divided, with representation from both traditionally published and self-published authors. Of the participants, 21 percent (more than 1,100 authors) did not identify as “White,” including 8 percent who identified as Black, 4 percent Hispanic, 2 percent Asian American and Pacific Islander, and 2 percent Native American. Additionally, 12 percent (700 authors) identified as LGBTQIA+, 11 percent (626 authors) fit the Americans with Disabilities Act’s definition of “impairment,” and 6 percent (322 authors) did not identify solely as male or female.

By conducting the Author Income Survey, the Authors Guild set out to gather comprehensive data that can provide invaluable insights into the economic realities of authors today. The survey is more than a survey; it is a call to action to acknowledge the economic challenges faced by authors and to work collectively to protect and sustain the literary voices that shape our world.

The study’s key findings include:

1. The median author income for full-time authors from their books was $10,000 in 2022. Book income includes advances, royalties, and fees from licensing and subsidiary rights. Other author-related income includes work such as editing, blogging, teaching, speaking, book coaching, copy writing and journalism.
2. Where our survey found a median of $13,700 for full-time self-published authors work in 2018. That number for 2022 was $24,000, an increase of 76%. Interestingly, most of self-published authors’ reported author related income was derived for their books, very little from other writing related sources.
3. In terms of genre distinctions, authors of Romance and Romantic Suspense stood out with a notable median book income of $31,725. Graphic novelists followed with a median book income of $15,000. Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense authors had a book income median of $10,000. Literary fiction authors earned a median book income of $5,000. Biography authors reported a book income median of $3,500. Lastly, authors focusing on literary works had a median gross book income of $2,800.
4. The comparison in incomes by race is startling. Full-time Black authors earned a median of only $2,412 from their books, as compared to a median of $10,985 for white authors. When comparing all full-time and part-time authors combined, Black authors 2022 median book related income was $800 vs. white authors at $2,000.

The Authors Guild’s 2022 Author Income Survey highlights areas of growth, disparities, and opportunities for improvement. This comprehensive data will guide our efforts to advocate for authors’ rights and fair compensation.