How much does a Technical Writer make?
The median pay for a Technical Writer in the United States is $90,390 per year — about $43.46 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $57,440, while the most experienced Technical Writers in the top 10% earn $145,270.
That is $29,000 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Technical Writer salary range by percentile
Half of all Technical Writers earn between $70,880 and $115,510 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,440 | $27.62 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $70,880 | $34.08 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $90,390 | $43.46 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $115,510 | $55.53 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $145,270 | $69.84 |
Highest-paying states for Technical Writer
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. New Jersey leads the country for Technical Writer pay at $122,320 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($117,810) and Massachusetts ($109,200). At the other end, Arkansas posts the lowest median at $61,180 — a gap of $61,140 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $122,320 | $58.81 | +35% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $117,810 | $56.64 | +30% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $109,200 | $52.50 | +21% |
| 4 | Washington | $104,070 | $50.03 | +15% |
| 5 | California | $104,000 | $50.00 | +15% |
Technical Writer salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 45 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 46,000 people work as Technical Writers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $96,970 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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