Illinois Median
$88,700
per year
Hourly Rate
$42.64
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-2% vs US median
US median $90,390
State Rank
#16 of 45
1,040 employed here
How much does a Technical Writer make in Illinois?
A Technical Writer working in Illinois earns a median salary of $88,700 per year, or about $42.64 per hour. That is 2% below the national median of $90,390 for this occupation.
Within Illinois, entry-level pay starts around $58,800 while the top 10% make $130,890 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $73,140 and $106,650 a year.
Technical Writer salary range in Illinois
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,800 | $28.27 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $73,140 | $35.16 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $88,700 | $42.64 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $106,650 | $51.27 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $130,890 | $62.93 |
|
How Illinois compares
Illinois ranks 16th 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 $104,070California $104,000Rhode Island $102,360Connecticut $101,870Maryland $100,990Colorado $100,610New York $98,310New Hampshire $96,300New Mexico $94,970Virginia $93,600Delaware $90,370Nevada $88,750Vermont $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 Illinois
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 Illinois pay ($88,700) 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 Illinois?
The median Technical Writer salary in Illinois is $88,700 per year, or about $42.64 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $58,800 at the entry level to $130,890 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Illinois pay compare to the national average?
Illinois pays Technical Writers about 2% less than the national median of $90,390. Illinois ranks 16th out of 45 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Illinois a good state for Technical Writers?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $88,700 a year. About 1,040 Technical Writers are employed in Illinois. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Illinois?
The highest-paying occupations in Illinois include Cardiologist ($517,850), Surgeon, All Other ($438,010), Dermatologist ($435,750), 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.