Self Publishing evidence: 9 quotes from 6 creators
Every quote, figure and source behind our self publishing guide: 9 quotes from 6 creators, grouped by claim, with the full source list.
Every quote, by claim
Accepted figures: each is backed by the creators quoted under it, verbatim and linked to the moment they said it.
Schedule control: own schedule
“being able to write on my own schedule and to set my own publish dates”
Single reports, not yet confirmed
What one creator said, before a second independent source backs it. Not used as a fact anywhere on the site.
Hourly earnings
“I could have made more money if I was working at a fast food restaurant.”
“I could have made more money if I was working at a fast food restaurant.”
Startup cost
“I think it's safe to say in one book you invest a $2,000 before it exists.”
Ongoing cost
“You pay 20 bucks a month for software, use that software to research trends”
Common pitfalls
“But if you're still publishing blank books or random activity books and hoping Amazon does all the work, you're in for a rude awakening.”
“Do not have your ebook published wide if it's in KDP Select. I am”
“Or worse yet, pumping out a bunch of unrelated, irrelevant books in hopes of playing the numbers game.”
Schedule control
“being able to write on my own schedule and to set my own publish dates”
Employee pay in the related job, nationally and by state
BLS figures describe employees in the closest related occupation, not side-hustle income.
| Related occupation | Median pay | Middle 80% | People employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Editors | $37.46/hr ($77,920/yr), BLS OEWS, May 2025 | $41,250–$153,700/yr | 91,690 |
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $63,330 |
| Alaska | $63,630 |
| Arizona | $63,090 |
| Arkansas | $50,180 |
| California | $98,030 |
| Colorado | $77,870 |
| Connecticut | $85,950 |
| Delaware | $75,020 |
| District of Columbia | $83,920 |
| Florida | $73,950 |
| Georgia | $76,650 |
| Hawaii | $55,070 |
| Illinois | $76,060 |
| Indiana | $56,440 |
| Iowa | $57,200 |
| Kansas | $61,920 |
| Kentucky | $59,430 |
| Louisiana | $58,860 |
| Maine | $50,180 |
| Maryland | $75,550 |
| Massachusetts | $83,170 |
| Michigan | $63,090 |
| Minnesota | $62,650 |
| Mississippi | $54,380 |
| Missouri | $61,620 |
| Montana | $61,750 |
| Nebraska | $46,320 |
| Nevada | $72,510 |
| New Hampshire | $66,510 |
| New Jersey | $81,680 |
| New Mexico | $64,250 |
| New York | $101,480 |
| North Carolina | $73,740 |
| North Dakota | $60,520 |
| Ohio | $72,160 |
| Oklahoma | $50,780 |
| Oregon | $71,540 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,460 |
| Puerto Rico | $39,640 |
| Rhode Island | $77,960 |
| South Carolina | $62,000 |
| South Dakota | $56,730 |
| Tennessee | $59,550 |
| Texas | $45,950 |
| Utah | $65,040 |
| Vermont | $66,860 |
| Virginia | $80,590 |
| Washington | $77,850 |
| West Virginia | $56,630 |
| Wisconsin | $64,270 |
| Wyoming | $46,710 |
All sources
- The Creative Penn, Write For Money And Power: Becoming A Creator CEO With Amy Suto (YouTube, 21 Oct 2026, at 32:20)
- Side Hustle Nation, How She Built a 6-Figure Business Teaching People About Goats (YouTube, 3 Sep 2026, at 4:46)
- The Side Hustle Show, 757: She Built a 6-Figure Business Talking About Goats (podcast, 27 Aug 2026, at 7:03)
- Side Hustle Hero, 191: Why a Side Hustle Gets You Noticed at Work (podcast, 7 Apr 2026, at 19:10)
- Chris Koerner, AI Lets You Start This Amazon Side Hustle in Minutes (YouTube, 8 Nov 2025, at 9:43)
- Dale L. Roberts (Self-Publishing with Dale), Why Most Low Content Books Fail (And What Works) (YouTube, 26 Oct 2026, at 0:34)
- Dale L. Roberts (Self-Publishing with Dale), (BREAKING) KDP Makes HUGE Changes to Kindle Unlimited (YouTube, 24 Oct 2026, at 57:56)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35.
- O*NET 31.0 Database, 31.0.
All data
| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Demand trend | stable | BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 |
| Nearest occupation | Editors | O*NET 31.0 |
| Schedule control | own schedule | The Creative Penn, Oct 2026 |
| Median hourly wage, employees: editors | $37.46/hr | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Median annual wage, employees: editors | $77,920/yr | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Annual wage, 10th percentile: editors | $41,250/yr | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Annual wage, 90th percentile: editors | $153,700/yr | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| People employed: editors | 91,690 jobs | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Projected employment change, 10 years: editors | -1.1% | BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 |
| Share self-employed: editors | 9% | BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 |