Children’s books are always popular with new parents, and it’s easy to walk through the children’s section of a bookstore and imagine your name on a colorful, hardcover picture book. After all, children’s books seem shorter, simpler, and maybe even easier to write than adult fiction, and have launched the writing careers of several authors, like Robert Munsch and Mo Willems. Plus, writing gives you the freedom to work from home, have a flexible schedule, and create stories for a living. So, how much do children’s book authors make?
The answer depends on many things. While a few authors become household names and build lucrative careers, most children’s writers earn far less than you might think and require in-depth knowledge of the publishing industry to succeed.
Factors such as where you live, what genre you’re writing for, and whether you go the indie or traditional publishing route all factor into what makes a successful career.
So, let’s break it down: what does the average children’s book author’s salary look like, and how can you realistically earn money in this field.
How Much Money Can You Make from a Children’s Book?
There are a few different statistics regarding the salaries of children’s book authors. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2023 median pay of all authors and writers is around $73,690.
Keep in mind that this statistic includes several categories, such as copywriters, technical writers, and journalists.This means it doesn’t give us the full picture when it comes to authors of children’s books specifically.
To answer the question, “How much do children’s authors make,” it’s best to look at statistics from the authors themselves.
A survey conducted by The Author’s Guild found that the median income of full-time book authors in America in 2017 was only $20,300 for all author-related income with 18% making nothing from their publications.
The survey showed that, on average, writers make under minimum wage at $7.25/an hour, but it also showed that writers who know how to market and write in certain genres are more successful.
In addition, authors of children’s fiction were near the lower end of the spectrum, with a reported median income of $5,970 out of those who end up making money from their publications. If including those who make nothing, the median drops to $1,770.
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Factors That Can Affect a Children’s Book Author’s Income
Of course, there are many factors that may affect the overall income of a children’s book author. While not all these factors carry the same weight, they’re important when considering if becoming an author is right for you.
Location
It may not seem like it at first, but location has somewhat of an impact on the amount an author makes. So, how much do children’s book authors make based on where they live?
According to recent BLS data, larger states such as New York, California, Texas, Florida, and Pennsylvania have the highest number of authors.
This is probably because there are many traditional publishers that operate in these states, such as Penguin Random House or HarperCollins. In states like this, writers of all backgrounds make more, with writers in New York making upwards of $95,880 on average.
Age
There are several different categories within children’s fiction, from children’s picture books to middle grade to young adult, and all are aimed at children in different age brackets. Young adult novels, aimed towards audiences in their teens, have been an incredibly lucrative and bustling industry over the last several years, so consider which age you want to target when deciding on your first book.
Traditional Publishing vs. Self-Publishing
A children’s book author’s salary depends on what path you decide to take when publishing, and there are two main ones: traditional publishing and self-publishing. Both offer advantages and trade-offs that can significantly affect a writer’s income and creative control.
For example, with traditional publishing, a publisher may offer an advance of $5,000 and 5% royalties on sales. In this case, we’ll say that the author is also the illustrator of the children’s book.
If the book costs $15, the author makes about 75 cents per sale. A relatively popular children’s book may sell 5,000 copies, which generates about $3,750. In this example, the author makes $8,750 off one book, but remember, these numbers may differ from case to case.
Self-publishing is a little different and has become increasingly popular. If an author prints their own books using a print-on-demand service, such as IngramSpark or Amazon, they don’t get an upfront advance. When you self-publish, you act as both the author and the publisher—you retain creative control and make all the decisions about formatting, pricing, and promotion.
However, they retain more royalties from overall book sales, sometimes as much as 70%. The only catch is that they must market, edit, and illustrate the cover of the book on their own, which may cost time or money.
A recent survey by the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) showed that the median income of self-published authors in 2022 was $12,749, a 50% increase from the previous year. This shows that self-publishing is becoming more profitable.
It’s also important to note that the top five genres included children’s books. Courses–like the one offered at Stratford Career Institute–can help you figure out which path may be best.
Other Income Streams to Bulk Up Your Salary
Successful children’s authors often diversify their income because, unfortunately, writing children’s books on their own isn’t always the most lucrative career. A recent survey by the Alliance of Indie Authors found that authors could have up to 9 income streams, with speaking and teaching being the most lucrative.
Some common add-ons to bulk up your income include:
- Speaking engagements,
- Freelance work,
- Affiliate marketing with videos or posts on social media,
- Referrals,
- Teaching courses on selling children’s books, and
- Writing for educational publishers or children’s magazines.
The more you build your author brand, the more opportunities open up. A single book might not pay the bills, but a growing portfolio of stories, paired with smart marketing, can bring in steady income over time, allowing you the freedom to work from home and create stories for a living.
Want to Learn How to Write and Sell Children’s Stories?
If you have a passion for storytelling and want to know more about publishing children’s books, enroll in our Writing Stories for Children course today! Writing a children’s book is about more than just having a great idea; it takes a lot of knowledge of the industry and storytelling fundamentals to become lucrative.
This self-paced course covers:
- Writing techniques tailored to children’s age groups,
- Editing and polishing your manuscript,
- Basics of illustration and book layout,
- The pros and cons of traditional vs. self-publishing, and
- How to begin selling and promoting your book
If becoming a published author is a dream of yours—or you just want to explore the process—this course can give you the foundation you need to learn the art of storytelling for children’s books.
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Stratford Career Institute offers a convenient and affordable online course to teach you the ins and outs of writing stories for children.