California Median
$104,000
per year
Hourly Rate
$50.00
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+15% vs US median
US median $90,390
State Rank
#5 of 45
5,280 employed here
How much does a Technical Writer make in California?
A Technical Writer working in California earns a median salary of $104,000 per year, or about $50.00 per hour. That is 15% above the national median of $90,390 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $69,630 while the top 10% make $175,510 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $84,250 and $141,280 a year.
Technical Writer salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $69,630 | $33.48 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $84,250 | $40.50 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $104,000 | $50.00 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $141,280 | $67.92 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $175,510 | $84.38 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 5th out of 45 states and territories for Technical Writer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Technical Writer salary in other states
New Jersey $122,320District of Columbia $117,810Massachusetts $109,200Washington $104,070Rhode Island $102,360Connecticut $101,870Maryland $100,990Colorado $100,610New York $98,310New Hampshire $96,300New Mexico $94,970Virginia $93,600Delaware $90,370Nevada $88,750Illinois $88,700Vermont $87,860Pennsylvania $87,620North Carolina $86,320Florida $86,240Alabama $85,840Michigan $85,270Oregon $84,000Minnesota $83,270Alaska $83,200Texas $82,750South Carolina $82,540Kentucky $81,070Missouri $80,840Utah $80,270Wisconsin $80,030Arizona $79,780Tennessee $79,550Ohio $76,480Indiana $75,510Montana $75,070Kansas $73,550Georgia $73,070North Dakota $72,990Oklahoma $69,760Iowa $66,520Mississippi $65,220Louisiana $63,790South Dakota $63,350Arkansas $61,180
Working as a Technical Writer in California
Nationally, about 46,000 people work as Technical Writers in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($104,000) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Technical Writer make in California?
The median Technical Writer salary in California is $104,000 per year, or about $50.00 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $69,630 at the entry level to $175,510 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Technical Writers about 15% more than the national median of $90,390. California ranks 5th out of 45 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Technical Writers?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $104,000 a year. About 5,280 Technical Writers are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Technical Writer salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.