Technical Writers pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,900 a year or less, while the top 10% make $175,010 or more. The middle half of technical writers in Seattle earn between $81,950 and $142,130.
- $61K10th
- $82K25th
- $108KMedian
- $142K75th
- $175K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $114,910 | $9,576 | $55.25 |
| Median | $107,580 | $8,965 | $51.72 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $81,950 | $6,829 | $39.40 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $142,130 | $11,844 | $68.33 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Technical Writers pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Technical writers in Seattle earn 5% more than the Washington average ($109,840) and 19% more than the U.S. average ($96,970). At the median the gap is +19% against the U.S. median of $90,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $114,910 | $107,580 | $60,900 | $175,010 | 1,220 |
| Washington | $109,840 | $104,070 | $60,420 | $169,810 | 1,620 |
| 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 Seattle
On the average salary of $114,910, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $89,669 a year, or $7,472 a month and $3,449 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Seattle a good place for technical writers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $114,910 buys what about $103,399 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 6.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Technical Writers salary in other Washington cities
Seattle ranks 1st of 4 Washington metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Seattle: questions
How much do technical writers make an hour in Seattle?
$55.25 an hour on average, and $51.72 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level technical writers salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,900 a year and the 25th percentile is $81,950, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the technical writers take-home pay in Seattle?
About $89,669 a year ($7,472 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $114,910. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do technical writers earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% more 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- 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. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.00, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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