Technical Writer salary in the U.S.
Technical Writers in the U.S. earn a median of $90,390 a year ($43.46 an hour), based on BLS data for 45,500 workers.
Pay ranges from $57,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $145,270 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $96,970, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for technical writers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,440 | $27.62 |
| 25th percentile | $70,880 | $34.08 |
| Median | $90,390 | $43.46 |
| 75th percentile | $115,510 | $55.53 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $145,270 | $69.84 |
| Average (mean) | $96,970 | $46.62 |
Half of technical writers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,532.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,766.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,476.54 |
| Weekly | $1,738.27 |
| Hourly | $43.46 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Technical Writer salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $122,320 | 1,550 |
| District of Columbia | $117,810 | 440 |
| Massachusetts | $109,200 | 1,850 |
| Washington | $104,070 | 1,620 |
| California | $104,000 | 5,280 |
| Rhode Island | $102,360 | 150 |
| Connecticut | $101,870 | 770 |
| Maryland | $100,990 | 1,780 |
| Colorado | $100,610 | 1,320 |
| New York | $98,310 | 1,610 |
| New Hampshire | $96,300 | 230 |
| New Mexico | $94,970 | 420 |
| Virginia | $93,600 | 2,280 |
| Delaware | $90,370 | 80 |
| Nevada | $88,750 | 230 |
| Illinois | $88,700 | 1,040 |
| Vermont | $87,860 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $87,620 | 1,330 |
| North Carolina | $86,320 | 2,860 |
| Florida | $86,240 | 2,550 |
| Alabama | $85,840 | 630 |
| Michigan | $85,270 | 970 |
| Oregon | $84,000 | 590 |
| Minnesota | $83,270 | 910 |
| Alaska | $83,200 | 130 |
| Texas | $82,750 | 3,340 |
| South Carolina | $82,540 | 700 |
| Kentucky | $81,070 | 340 |
| Missouri | $80,840 | 500 |
| Utah | $80,270 | 570 |
| Wisconsin | $80,030 | 910 |
| Arizona | $79,780 | 730 |
| Tennessee | $79,550 | 480 |
| Ohio | $76,480 | 1,350 |
| Indiana | $75,510 | 540 |
| Montana | $75,070 | 160 |
| Kansas | $73,550 | 480 |
| Georgia | $73,070 | 1,680 |
| North Dakota | $72,990 | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $69,760 | 600 |
| Iowa | $66,520 | 640 |
| Mississippi | $65,220 | 70 |
| Louisiana | $63,790 | 320 |
| South Dakota | $63,350 | 70 |
| Arkansas | $61,180 | 150 |
| Puerto Rico | $46,950 | 60 |
Best-paying metro areas for technical writers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $140,700 | 920 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $135,470 | 1,020 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $129,590 | 40 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $119,160 | 80 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $117,130 | 100 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $111,750 | 1,590 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $111,050 | 2,170 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $107,580 | 1,220 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $106,900 | 160 |
| Boulder, CO | $105,840 | 140 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $104,450 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $104,000 | 1,460 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $103,730 | 160 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $103,360 | 800 |
| Savannah, GA | $103,000 | 120 |
Metro areas with the most technical writers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 2,370 | $99,910 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,170 | $111,050 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,590 | $111,750 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,460 | $104,000 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,220 | $107,580 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,030 | $86,520 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,020 | $135,470 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 920 | $140,700 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 890 | $75,140 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 820 | $102,140 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 800 | $103,360 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 790 | $89,960 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 710 | $92,330 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 670 | $86,340 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 660 | $87,360 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Editor | $77,920 | $37.46 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $60,170 | $28.93 |
| Writers and Authors | $76,910 | $36.98 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $62,200 | $29.91 |
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $47,340 | $22.76 |
| Media and Communication Workers, All Other | $73,620 | $35.39 |
| Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners | $72,420 | $34.82 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | — |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,360 | $43.44 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 | $32.31 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $58,100 | $27.93 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-3042. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a technical writer make in the U.S.?
The median salary for technical writers in the U.S. is $90,390 a year, or $43.46 an hour. Pay ranges from $57,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $145,270 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid technical writers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of technical writers in the U.S. earn at least $145,270 a year. The top 25% earn $115,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for technical writers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $57,440 a year, and a quarter of technical writers earn $70,880 or less.
How many technical writers work in the U.S.?
About 45,500 technical writers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.