Technical Writers pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,750 a year or less, while the top 10% make $121,310 or more. The middle half of technical writers in Knoxville earn between $63,780 and $102,430.
- $53K10th
- $64K25th
- $101KMedian
- $102K75th
- $121K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $89,120 | $7,427 | $42.85 |
| Median | $101,430 | $8,452 | $48.76 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $63,780 | $5,315 | $30.66 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $102,430 | $8,536 | $49.25 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Technical Writers pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Technical writers in Knoxville earn 8% more than the Tennessee average ($82,580) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($96,970). At the median the gap is +12% against the U.S. median of $90,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $89,120 | $101,430 | $52,750 | $121,310 | 100 |
| Tennessee | $82,580 | $79,550 | $50,430 | $108,890 | 480 |
| United States | $96,970 | $90,390 | $57,440 | $145,270 | 45,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Technical Writers salary after taxes in Knoxville
On the average salary of $89,120, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $71,526 a year, or $5,960 a month and $2,751 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for technical writers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $89,120 buys what about $96,274 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 4.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Technical Writers salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 2nd of 3 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Memphis pays the most ($89,640).
Highest-paying cities for technical writers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($139,970).
- San Jose, CA$139,970
- San Francisco, CA$137,560
- Santa Rosa, CA$127,330
- Boulder, CO$115,710
- Boston, MA$115,210
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Technical Writers salary in Knoxville: questions
How much do technical writers make an hour in Knoxville?
$42.85 an hour on average, and $48.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level technical writers salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,750 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,780, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the technical writers take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $71,526 a year ($5,960 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $89,120. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do technical writers earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% less than the U.S. average for this job ($96,970).
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; area Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.1%.
- 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.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.79, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.79).
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