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Top 15 cities for technical writers by average salary
| San Jose, CA | $139,970 |
|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $137,560 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $127,330 |
| Boulder, CO | $115,710 |
| Boston, MA | $115,210 |
| Seattle, WA | $114,910 |
| Trenton, NJ | $114,500 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $111,700 |
| New York, NY | $111,070 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $110,570 |
| Kennewick, WA | $110,000 |
| Denver, CO | $109,310 |
| San Diego, CA | $109,020 |
| Washington, DC | $106,290 |
| Baltimore, MD | $106,110 |
Map: Technical Writers salary by metro area
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Technical Writers salary by state
California pays technical writers the most statewide, $117,060 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $117,060 | $104,000 | 5,280 | 11 | $139,970 | $86,390 |
| New Jersey | $116,550 | $122,320 | 1,550 | 2 | $114,500 | $78,130 |
| Massachusetts | $114,610 | $109,200 | 1,850 | 2 | $115,210 | $103,500 |
| Washington, D.C. | $112,210 | $117,810 | 440 | 1 | $106,290 | $106,290 |
| Idaho | n/a | n/a | 430 | 2 | $110,570 | $77,880 |
| Washington | $109,840 | $104,070 | 1,620 | 4 | $114,910 | $87,230 |
| Colorado | $107,560 | $100,610 | 1,320 | 4 | $115,710 | $101,190 |
| Maryland | $104,800 | $100,990 | 1,780 | 2 | $106,110 | $97,280 |
| Vermont | $101,220 | $87,860 | 60 | 1 | $99,840 | $99,840 |
| New York | $100,460 | $98,310 | 1,610 | 5 | $111,070 | $81,810 |
| Connecticut | $100,400 | $101,870 | 770 | 4 | $100,700 | $89,950 |
| New Mexico | $99,160 | $94,970 | 420 | 1 | $89,090 | $89,090 |
| Virginia | $97,090 | $93,600 | 2,280 | 3 | $104,820 | $84,090 |
| Rhode Island | $97,050 | $102,360 | 150 | 1 | $96,130 | $96,130 |
| New Hampshire | $96,440 | $96,300 | 230 | 1 | $103,890 | $103,890 |
| Oregon | $95,890 | $84,000 | 590 | 3 | $94,660 | $88,310 |
| Pennsylvania | $95,660 | $87,620 | 1,330 | 4 | $99,800 | $77,880 |
| Illinois | $92,610 | $88,700 | 1,040 | 2 | $93,820 | $86,940 |
| Missouri | $92,480 | $80,840 | 500 | 2 | $93,500 | $85,000 |
| Alabama | $92,180 | $85,840 | 630 | 4 | $96,450 | $84,480 |
| Florida | $92,090 | $86,240 | 2,550 | 10 | $98,460 | $74,660 |
| North Carolina | $91,620 | $86,320 | 2,860 | 7 | $102,640 | $75,290 |
| Nevada | $91,130 | $88,750 | 230 | 2 | $90,160 | $88,710 |
| Michigan | $90,780 | $85,270 | 970 | 4 | $97,120 | $82,690 |
| Delaware | $89,480 | $90,370 | 80 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Minnesota | $88,770 | $83,270 | 910 | 1 | $92,800 | $92,800 |
| Texas | $88,140 | $82,750 | 3,340 | 5 | $93,970 | $68,600 |
| Arizona | $86,510 | $79,780 | 730 | 2 | $89,840 | $77,340 |
| Maine | n/a | n/a | 310 | 1 | $86,190 | $86,190 |
| Utah | $85,950 | $80,270 | 570 | 4 | $90,490 | $77,420 |
| South Carolina | $85,310 | $82,540 | 700 | 3 | $93,210 | $74,040 |
| Wisconsin | $84,910 | $80,030 | 910 | 3 | $90,210 | $78,290 |
| Kentucky | $83,190 | $81,070 | 340 | 2 | $86,190 | $85,870 |
| Ohio | $82,920 | $76,480 | 1,350 | 6 | $90,870 | $74,290 |
| Tennessee | $82,580 | $79,550 | 480 | 3 | $89,640 | $81,680 |
| Georgia | $82,400 | $73,070 | 1,680 | 4 | $104,210 | $83,890 |
| Alaska | $80,420 | $83,200 | 130 | 1 | $81,090 | $81,090 |
| North Dakota | $79,690 | $72,990 | 70 | 1 | $79,520 | $79,520 |
| Indiana | $78,400 | $75,510 | 540 | 3 | $84,890 | $65,780 |
| Montana | $76,000 | $75,070 | 160 | 1 | $75,120 | $75,120 |
| Kansas | $74,930 | $73,550 | 480 | 1 | $76,500 | $76,500 |
| Louisiana | $72,730 | $63,790 | 320 | 3 | $80,720 | $70,860 |
| Oklahoma | $72,660 | $69,760 | 600 | 2 | $76,430 | $73,800 |
| Iowa | $72,130 | $66,520 | 640 | 4 | $78,510 | $67,330 |
| Nebraska | n/a | n/a | 190 | 1 | $69,490 | $69,490 |
| Mississippi | $69,480 | $65,220 | 70 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| South Dakota | $65,090 | $63,350 | 70 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Arkansas | $63,460 | $61,180 | 150 | 2 | $63,470 | $62,970 |
| Puerto Rico | $52,070 | $46,950 | 60 | 1 | $51,420 | $51,420 |
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Technical Writers salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $139,970 | $140,700 | $67.29 | 920 |
| San Francisco, CA | $137,560 | $135,470 | $66.13 | 1,020 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $127,330 | $129,590 | $61.22 | 40 |
| Boulder, CO | $115,710 | $105,840 | $55.63 | 140 |
| Boston, MA | $115,210 | $111,750 | $55.39 | 1,590 |
| Seattle, WA | $114,910 | $107,580 | $55.25 | 1,220 |
| Trenton, NJ | $114,500 | $117,130 | $55.05 | 100 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $111,700 | $104,450 | $53.70 | 60 |
| New York, NY | $111,070 | $111,050 | $53.40 | 2,170 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $110,570 | $101,790 | $53.16 | 70 |
| Kennewick, WA | $110,000 | $119,160 | $52.88 | 80 |
| Denver, CO | $109,310 | $103,360 | $52.55 | 800 |
| San Diego, CA | $109,020 | $101,750 | $52.42 | 520 |
| Washington, DC | $106,290 | $99,910 | $51.10 | 2,370 |
| Baltimore, MD | $106,110 | $102,140 | $51.01 | 820 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $104,820 | $93,530 | $50.39 | 40 |
| Augusta, GA | $104,210 | $103,730 | $50.10 | 160 |
| Manchester, NH | $103,890 | $97,360 | $49.95 | 60 |
| Sacramento, CA | $103,570 | $94,400 | $49.79 | 190 |
| Worcester, MA | $103,500 | $98,020 | $49.76 | 100 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $103,080 | $104,000 | $49.56 | 1,460 |
| Raleigh, NC | $102,640 | $93,580 | $49.35 | 630 |
| Oxnard, CA | $102,480 | $98,800 | $49.27 | 70 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $102,380 | $93,700 | $49.22 | 60 |
| Durham, NC | $102,150 | $94,520 | $49.11 | 390 |
| Wilmington, NC | $101,640 | $93,750 | $48.87 | 70 |
| Savannah, GA | $101,460 | $103,000 | $48.78 | 120 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $101,190 | $96,100 | $48.65 | 210 |
| Hartford, CT | $100,700 | $102,470 | $48.41 | 250 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $100,190 | $106,900 | $48.17 | 160 |
| Burlington, VT | $99,840 | $89,140 | $48.00 | 50 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $99,800 | $92,330 | $47.98 | 710 |
| Norwich, CT | $99,610 | $100,650 | $47.89 | 130 |
| Sarasota, FL | $98,460 | $94,750 | $47.34 | 70 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $97,280 | $97,810 | $46.77 | 80 |
| Olympia, WA | $97,240 | $85,050 | $46.75 | 50 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $97,120 | $89,840 | $46.69 | 60 |
| Huntsville, AL | $96,450 | $96,470 | $46.37 | 340 |
| Providence, RI | $96,130 | $92,240 | $46.22 | 180 |
| Portland, OR | $94,660 | $81,540 | $45.51 | 460 |
| Albany, NY | $94,620 | $90,500 | $45.49 | 80 |
| Allentown, PA | $94,580 | $90,230 | $45.47 | 60 |
| Miami, FL | $94,500 | $84,750 | $45.43 | 560 |
| Austin, TX | $93,970 | $88,360 | $45.18 | 650 |
| Chicago, IL | $93,820 | $89,960 | $45.11 | 790 |
| St. Louis, MO | $93,500 | $80,840 | $44.95 | 200 |
| Tampa, FL | $93,410 | $89,210 | $44.91 | 400 |
| Orlando, FL | $93,350 | $86,600 | $44.88 | 470 |
| Charleston, SC | $93,210 | $88,610 | $44.81 | 150 |
| Detroit, MI | $93,130 | $92,390 | $44.77 | 560 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $92,800 | $86,340 | $44.61 | 670 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $91,360 | $89,440 | $43.92 | 200 |
| Houston, TX | $91,110 | $87,360 | $43.80 | 660 |
| Columbus, OH | $90,870 | $78,870 | $43.69 | 240 |
| Montgomery, AL | $90,500 | $87,270 | $43.51 | n/a |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $90,490 | $82,050 | $43.50 | 290 |
| Charlotte, NC | $90,440 | $82,610 | $43.48 | 560 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $90,210 | $82,370 | $43.37 | 320 |
| Riverside, CA | $90,160 | $85,500 | $43.34 | 140 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $90,160 | $82,860 | $43.35 | 160 |
| Waterbury, CT | $89,950 | $92,880 | $43.24 | 50 |
| Birmingham, AL | $89,930 | $82,870 | $43.24 | 60 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $89,840 | $83,480 | $43.19 | 490 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $89,820 | $87,810 | $43.18 | 40 |
| Ogden, UT | $89,760 | $85,780 | $43.15 | 80 |
| Memphis, TN | $89,640 | $90,710 | $43.10 | 80 |
| Eugene, OR | $89,430 | $77,210 | $42.99 | 30 |
| Greensboro, NC | $89,160 | $88,840 | $42.87 | 130 |
| Knoxville, TN | $89,120 | $101,430 | $42.85 | 100 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $89,090 | $86,790 | $42.83 | 190 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $88,820 | $80,610 | $42.70 | 40 |
| Syracuse, NY | $88,760 | $84,520 | $42.67 | 80 |
| Reno, NV | $88,710 | $83,920 | $42.65 | n/a |
| Dallas, TX | $88,540 | $86,520 | $42.57 | 1,030 |
| Salem, OR | $88,310 | $84,000 | $42.46 | 50 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $88,120 | $87,940 | $42.36 | 60 |
| Crestview, FL | $87,880 | $95,690 | $42.25 | 90 |
| Spokane, WA | $87,230 | $84,300 | $41.94 | 70 |
| Buffalo, NY | $87,040 | $78,300 | $41.84 | 80 |
| Peoria, IL | $86,940 | $87,090 | $41.80 | 40 |
| Madison, WI | $86,940 | $86,180 | $41.80 | 180 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $86,730 | $76,170 | $41.70 | 40 |
| Fresno, CA | $86,390 | $76,030 | $41.54 | 60 |
| Lexington, KY | $86,190 | $68,900 | $41.44 | 50 |
| Portland, ME | $86,190 | $78,160 | $41.44 | 60 |
| Louisville, KY | $85,870 | $89,260 | $41.29 | n/a |
| Cincinnati, OH | $85,270 | $79,140 | $40.99 | 370 |
| Palm Bay, FL | $85,180 | $80,640 | $40.95 | 190 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $85,070 | $79,080 | $40.90 | 100 |
| Kansas City, MO | $85,000 | $76,590 | $40.87 | 350 |
| San Antonio, TX | $84,930 | $82,520 | $40.83 | 250 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $84,890 | $82,970 | $40.81 | 240 |
| Mobile, AL | $84,480 | $79,980 | $40.62 | 30 |
| Richmond, VA | $84,420 | $79,200 | $40.59 | 180 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $84,090 | $79,340 | $40.43 | 350 |
| Deltona, FL | $83,950 | $78,310 | $40.36 | 40 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $83,900 | $75,990 | $40.34 | 40 |
| Atlanta, GA | $83,890 | $75,140 | $40.33 | 890 |
| Toledo, OH | $83,520 | $65,310 | $40.15 | 40 |
| Lansing, MI | $82,690 | $82,670 | $39.76 | 30 |
| Rochester, NY | $81,810 | $78,370 | $39.33 | 70 |
| Nashville, TN | $81,680 | $79,550 | $39.27 | 170 |
| Columbia, SC | $81,510 | $77,640 | $39.19 | 90 |
| Anchorage, AK | $81,090 | $81,110 | $38.98 | 60 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $80,720 | $75,310 | $38.81 | 100 |
| Cleveland, OH | $80,300 | $75,810 | $38.61 | 200 |
| Fargo, ND | $79,520 | $72,990 | $38.23 | 50 |
| Logan, UT | $79,360 | $76,540 | $38.15 | 50 |
| Davenport, IA | $78,510 | $77,170 | $37.75 | 60 |
| Oshkosh, WI | $78,290 | $74,360 | $37.64 | 30 |
| Atlantic City, NJ | $78,130 | $73,720 | $37.56 | 30 |
| Scranton, PA | $77,880 | $71,580 | $37.44 | 30 |
| Boise, ID | $77,880 | $75,210 | $37.44 | 120 |
| Provo, UT | $77,420 | $74,890 | $37.22 | 130 |
| Tucson, AZ | $77,340 | $75,070 | $37.18 | 140 |
| Wichita, KS | $76,500 | $76,820 | $36.78 | 90 |
| Tulsa, OK | $76,430 | $70,910 | $36.75 | 180 |
| Des Moines, IA | $75,770 | $69,450 | $36.43 | 200 |
| Asheville, NC | $75,290 | $68,180 | $36.20 | 60 |
| Akron, OH | $75,120 | $70,790 | $36.11 | 60 |
| Billings, MT | $75,120 | $75,330 | $36.12 | 60 |
| Gainesville, FL | $74,660 | $63,730 | $35.90 | 30 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $74,620 | $69,410 | $35.87 | 80 |
| Dayton, OH | $74,290 | $64,380 | $35.72 | 190 |
| Greenville, SC | $74,040 | $67,910 | $35.60 | 180 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $73,800 | $71,210 | $35.48 | 270 |
| Lafayette, LA | $70,940 | $70,140 | $34.11 | 30 |
| Elkhart, IN | $70,890 | $63,570 | $34.08 | 40 |
| New Orleans, LA | $70,860 | $62,990 | $34.07 | 100 |
| Lincoln, NE | $69,490 | $66,610 | $33.41 | 50 |
| El Paso, TX | $68,600 | $62,830 | $32.98 | n/a |
| Dubuque, IA | $67,330 | $57,400 | $32.37 | 70 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $65,780 | $60,480 | $31.63 | 40 |
| Little Rock, AR | $63,470 | $61,860 | $30.52 | 80 |
| Fayetteville, AR | $62,970 | $61,180 | $30.28 | n/a |
| San Juan, PR | $51,420 | $46,950 | $24.72 | 50 |
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Technical Writers salary: questions
Where do technical writers make the most money?
In San Jose, CA, with an average of $139,970 a year, among the 136 metro areas we cover.
What is the average technical writers salary in the U.S.?
$96,970 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $90,390, so half of technical writers earn more than that and half less.
What salary should technical writers ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of technical writers nationwide earn between $70,880 (25th percentile) and $115,510 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays technical writers the most?
California, with a statewide average of $117,060 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is technical writers pay the lowest?
San Juan, PR, at $51,420 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-3042.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.