Technical Writer salary in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
Technical Writers in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area earn a median of $94,400 a year ($45.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 190 workers.
Pay ranges from $59,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $157,430 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $90,390. Pay here is 9% lower than the California statewide median of $104,000. There are 0.18 technical writers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.60). The average (mean) salary is $103,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for technical writers in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,400 | $28.56 |
| 25th percentile | $84,400 | $40.58 |
| Median | $94,400 | $45.38 |
| 75th percentile | $116,060 | $55.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $157,430 | $75.69 |
| Average (mean) | $103,570 | $49.79 |
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 | $7,866.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,933.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,630.77 |
| Weekly | $1,815.38 |
| Hourly | $45.38 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Technical Writer salary in other metro areas nearby
| 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 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $104,450 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $104,000 | 1,460 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $101,750 | 520 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $98,800 | 70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $85,500 | 140 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $76,170 | 40 |
| Fresno, CA | $76,030 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for technical writers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $122,320 |
| District of Columbia | $117,810 |
| Massachusetts | $109,200 |
| Washington | $104,070 |
| California | $104,000 |
| Rhode Island | $102,360 |
| Connecticut | $101,870 |
| Maryland | $100,990 |
| Colorado | $100,610 |
| New York | $98,310 |
See Technical Writer pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $89,640 | $43.10 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $64,360 | $30.94 |
| Editor | $78,800 | $37.89 |
| Writers and Authors | $82,690 | $39.76 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $80,000 | $38.46 |
| Media and Communication Workers, All Other | $85,950 | $41.32 |
| Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners | $118,200 | $56.83 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $46,430 | — |
| Graphic Designer | $74,680 | $35.90 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $44,780 | $21.53 |
| Art Director | $106,390 | $51.15 |
| Interior Designer | $77,690 | $37.35 |
| Photographer | $45,880 | $22.06 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $57,600 | $27.69 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
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 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA?
The median salary for technical writers in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area is $94,400 a year, or $45.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $59,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $157,430 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid technical writers make in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA?
The top 10% of technical writers in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area earn at least $157,430 a year. The top 25% earn $116,060 or more.
What is the starting pay for technical writers in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $59,400 a year, and a quarter of technical writers earn $84,400 or less.
How many technical writers work in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA?
About 190 technical writers are employed in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.