Technical Writers pay range in Houston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,420 a year or less, while the top 10% make $144,630 or more. The middle half of technical writers in Houston earn between $69,590 and $107,230.
- $52K10th
- $70K25th
- $87KMedian
- $107K75th
- $145K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $91,110 | $7,592 | $43.80 |
| Median | $87,360 | $7,280 | $42.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $69,590 | $5,799 | $33.46 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $107,230 | $8,936 | $51.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Technical Writers pay in Houston vs. Texas and the U.S.
Technical writers in Houston earn 3% more than the Texas average ($88,140) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($96,970). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $90,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | $91,110 | $87,360 | $52,420 | $144,630 | 660 |
| Texas | $88,140 | $82,750 | $50,590 | $127,920 | 3,340 |
| 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 Houston
On the average salary of $91,110, a single filer in Houston takes home about $72,926 a year, or $6,077 a month and $2,805 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 Houston a good place for technical writers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Houston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.6), so the average $91,110 buys what about $92,376 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Houston ($49,410). A typical home costs $308,306, or 3.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Technical Writers salary in other Texas cities
Houston ranks 2nd of 5 Texas metro areas for this job; Austin pays the most ($93,970).
- Austin$93,970
- Houston$91,110
- Dallas$88,540
- San Antonio$84,930
- El Paso$68,600
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 Houston: questions
How much do technical writers make an hour in Houston?
$43.80 an hour on average, and $42.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level technical writers salary in Houston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,420 a year and the 25th percentile is $69,590, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the technical writers take-home pay in Houston?
About $72,926 a year ($6,077 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $91,110. Texas has no state income tax.
Do technical writers earn more in Houston than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX (26420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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 0.69, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.69).
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