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The average salary for a Technical Publications Writer is $68,526 per year, translating to approximately $33 per hour. This salary can vary based on factors such as geographical location, industry, and level of experience. For example, those with more years in the field typically earn higher wages.
Technical Publications Writers can find more lucrative positions in metropolitan areas. Cities known for higher salaries include San Francisco, New York, and Washington, D.C.. These locations often have a demand for technical writers who can produce clear and concise documentation for complex products.
Entry-level writers may start around $50,000, while those with significant experience can command salaries exceeding $90,000. Understanding these salary structures will help new professionals set realistic expectations and plan their career trajectories accordingly.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level technical publications writer | $46,500 | $22.35 |
| Mid-level technical publications writer | $74,100 | $35.62 |
| Senior-level technical publications writer | $102,000 | $48.90 |
The average technical publications writer salary in California, Arizona, and Virginia are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average technical publications writer salary states are South Dakota, Oklahoma, and Kentucky.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $81,247 | $39.06 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $94,593 | $45.48 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $69,437 | $33.38 |
| 4 | North Carolina | $66,225 | $31.84 |
| 5 | Michigan | $69,317 | $33.33 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $68,559 | $32.96 |
| 7 | Virginia | $80,739 | $38.82 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $67,663 | $32.53 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $69,041 | $33.19 |
| 10 | California | $81,830 | $39.34 |
| 11 | Nevada | $64,815 | $31.16 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $75,660 | $36.38 |
| 13 | Illinois | $65,253 | $31.37 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $72,900 | $35.05 |
| 15 | Washington | $72,881 | $35.04 |
| 16 | Oregon | $70,134 | $33.72 |
| 17 | New York | $66,073 | $31.77 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $67,297 | $32.35 |
| 19 | Vermont | $68,725 | $33.04 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $68,218 | $32.80 |
| 21 | Colorado | $63,551 | $30.55 |
| 22 | Alaska | $63,273 | $30.42 |
| 23 | Texas | $59,716 | $28.71 |
| 24 | Ohio | $61,160 | $29.40 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $60,161 | $28.92 |
| 26 | Indiana | $59,555 | $28.63 |
| 27 | Missouri | $60,729 | $29.20 |
| 28 | Florida | $61,045 | $29.35 |
| 29 | Delaware | $60,763 | $29.21 |
| 30 | Georgia | $59,744 | $28.72 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $58,345 | $28.05 |
| 32 | Kansas | $58,190 | $27.98 |
| 33 | Rhode Island | $61,601 | $29.62 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $55,899 | $26.87 |
| 35 | Montana | $61,417 | $29.53 |
| 36 | Maryland | $64,380 | $30.95 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $58,827 | $28.28 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $56,526 | $27.18 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $55,093 | $26.49 |
| 40 | Utah | $59,048 | $28.39 |
| 41 | Alabama | $56,522 | $27.17 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $54,232 | $26.07 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $53,826 | $25.88 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $55,210 | $26.54 |
| 45 | Maine | $54,383 | $26.15 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $53,118 | $25.54 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $59,601 | $28.65 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $53,965 | $25.94 |
| 49 | Iowa | $53,546 | $25.74 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $52,782 | $25.38 |
| 51 | Idaho | $55,086 | $26.48 |
The highest-paying cities for technical publications writers are Alameda, CA, Phoenix, AZ, and Reston, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alameda, CA | $86,978 | $41.82 |
| 2 | Phoenix, AZ | $81,345 | $39.11 |
| 3 | Reston, VA | $81,307 | $39.09 |
| 4 | Wall, NJ | $75,770 | $36.43 |
| 5 | Pittsburgh, PA | $67,512 | $32.46 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $66,215 | $31.83 |
| 7 | Rockville, MD | $64,262 | $30.90 |
| 8 | Waco, TX | $59,654 | $28.68 |
| 9 | Carmel, IN | $59,547 | $28.63 |
| 10 | Greenville, SC | $55,464 | $26.67 |
A technical publications writer's salary ranges from $53,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $88,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $88,000 | $7,333 | $42 |
| 75th Percentile | $78,000 | $6,500 | $38 |
| Average | $68,526 | $5,711 | $33 |
| 25th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
| 10th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
The highest paying types of technical publications writers are senior technical trainer, medical writer, and contract writer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Writer | $66,143 | $5,512 | $31.80 | 13,931 |
| Staff Writer | $44,844 | $3,737 | $21.56 | 80,547 |
| Proposal Writer | $68,706 | $5,725 | $33.03 | 18,125 |
| Grant Writer | $52,719 | $4,393 | $25.35 | 16,708 |
| Research Writer | $50,741 | $4,228 | $24.39 | 60,595 |
| Feature Writer | $35,590 | $2,966 | $17.11 | 10,279 |
Top companies hiring technical publications writers now:
Technical publications writer salaries at Yahoo and American Express are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average technical publications writer salary at companies like Joby Aviation and Playdom are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yahoo | $91,699 | $44.09 |
| 2 | American Express | $86,080 | $41.38 |
| 3 | Joby Aviation | $84,811 | $40.77 |
| 4 | Playdom | $84,225 | $40.49 |
| 5 | U.S. Pharmacopeia | $83,307 | $40.05 |
| 6 | World Wide Technology | $72,780 | $34.99 |
| 7 | Lockheed Martin | $71,429 | $34.34 |
| 8 | Raytheon Technologies | $71,303 | $34.28 |
| 9 | Safran | $68,032 | $32.71 |
| 10 | Republic Airways Holdings | $66,233 | $31.84 |
| 11 | Singulex | $65,142 | $31.32 |
| 12 | Cyient | $65,139 | $31.32 |
| 13 | MAG Aerospace | $64,893 | $31.20 |
| 14 | Cogent Communications | $64,840 | $31.17 |
| 15 | Universal Instruments | $61,538 | $29.59 |
| 16 | Accela | $58,227 | $27.99 |
The average technical publications writer salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $71,983 | $34.61 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $67,633 | $32.52 |
| 3 | Transportation | $64,832 | $31.17 |
| 4 | Agriculture | $64,709 | $31.11 |
The average technical publications writer salary has risen by $9,216 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average technical publications writer earned $59,310 annually, but today, they earn $68,526 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for technical publications writers over the last decade.
Compare technical publications writer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare technical publications writer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $68,500 | $32.95 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $66,900 | $32.15 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $66,000 | $31.71 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $65,100 | $31.30 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | $64,100 | $30.83 | -0.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lockheed Martin Corporation | Technical Publications Writer/Dallas | Grand Prairie, TX | 03/19/2025 | $80,400 |
| Alten Technology Usa | Technical Publication Writer | Denver, CO | 01/26/2025 | $70,000 |
| Alten Technology USA | Technical Publication Writer | Waukesha, WI | 01/06/2025 | $70,000 |
| CAE | Technical Publication Writer | Binghamton, NY | 12/15/2024 | $77,000 |
| Craig Technologies | Technical Publication SP 2 Sub | Lompoc, CA | 12/10/2024 | $66,560 |
| ASEC | Technical Publications Writer | San Diego, CA | 10/11/2024 | $120,000 |
| Maryland National Capital Park | Publick Playhouse Theatre Technician-Seasonal | Cheverly, MD | 10/09/2024 | $41,740 |
| Shamrock Foods | Technical Publication Writer | Aurora, CO | 05/09/2024 | $55,000 |
| Shamrock Foods | Technical Publication Writer | Aurora, CO | 05/09/2024 | $55,000 |
| Adams County Government | Technical Writer-Public Health Department, Temporary | Brighton, CO | 04/03/2024 | $60,043 |
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