Technical Writers Salary
The median technical writers salary in the United States is $90,390 per year ($43.46/hour). Salaries range from $57,440 at the entry level to $145,270+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 45,500 technical writers jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 0.9% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$90,390
per year
Hourly Rate
$43.46
per hour
Employment
45,500
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$57,440
25th percentile
$70,880
Median
$90,390
75th percentile
$115,510
90th percentile
$145,270
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+0.9%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
4,500
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
+ Less than 5 years experience
Training Needed
Short-term on-the-job training
Technical Writers Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$61K$122K■ No data
Top Paying States
New Jersey
$122K
+35%
District of Columbia
$118K
+30%
Massachusetts
$109K
+21%
Washington
$104K
+15%
California
$104K
+15%
Rhode Island
$102K
+13%
Connecticut
$102K
+13%
Maryland
$101K
+12%
Colorado
$101K
+11%
New York
$98K
+9%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $122,320 | +35.3% |
| District of Columbia | $117,810 | +30.3% |
| Massachusetts | $109,200 | +20.8% |
| Washington | $104,070 | +15.1% |
| California | $104,000 | +15.1% |
| Rhode Island | $102,360 | +13.2% |
| Connecticut | $101,870 | +12.7% |
| Maryland | $100,990 | +11.7% |
| Colorado | $100,610 | +11.3% |
| New York | $98,310 | +8.8% |
Showing 1–10 of 45
Technical Writers Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $140,700 | +55.7% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $135,470 | +49.9% |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $129,590 | +43.4% |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $119,160 | +31.8% |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $117,130 | +29.6% |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $111,750 | +23.6% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $111,050 | +22.9% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $107,580 | +19.0% |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $106,900 | +18.3% |
| Boulder, CO | $105,840 | +17.1% |
Showing 1–10 of 137
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A technical writers earning $90,390/year would need 659 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 708 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how technical writers salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Technical Writers salary trend (2011–2024) →