Average Technical Writer Salary
What is a Technical Writer's Salary?
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $103,000 | $8,583 | $50 |
| 75th Percentile | $87,000 | $7,250 | $42 |
| Average | $73,703 | $6,142 | $35 |
| 25th Percentile | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29 |
| 10th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
Average Technical Writer Salary By State
The darker areas on the map show where technical writers earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.
- State View
- County View
Technical Writer average salary by State
| State | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $58,899 | $28.32 | 346 |
| Alaska | $75,847 | $36.46 | 118 |
| Arizona | $70,299 | $33.80 | 879 |
| Arkansas | $56,158 | $27.00 | 313 |
| California | $82,747 | $39.78 | 1,151 |
| Colorado | $67,202 | $32.31 | 840 |
| Connecticut | $74,613 | $35.87 | 432 |
| Delaware | $78,058 | $37.53 | 159 |
| District of Columbia | $85,760 | $41.23 | 216 |
| Florida | $53,676 | $25.81 | 1,777 |
| Georgia | $68,954 | $33.15 | 1,243 |
| Hawaii | $66,123 | $31.79 | 26 |
| Idaho | $51,021 | $24.53 | 47 |
| Illinois | $63,354 | $30.46 | 1,749 |
| Indiana | $49,549 | $23.82 | 711 |
| Iowa | $50,632 | $24.34 | 321 |
| Kansas | $61,433 | $29.54 | 348 |
| Kentucky | $56,906 | $27.36 | 330 |
| Louisiana | $61,762 | $29.69 | 249 |
| Maine | $83,483 | $40.14 | 132 |
| Maryland | $78,130 | $37.56 | 359 |
| Massachusetts | $90,033 | $43.29 | 382 |
| Michigan | $65,351 | $31.42 | 880 |
| Minnesota | $59,145 | $28.44 | 921 |
| Mississippi | $55,156 | $26.52 | 172 |
| Missouri | $60,114 | $28.90 | 654 |
| Montana | $56,247 | $27.04 | 35 |
| Nebraska | $51,690 | $24.85 | 299 |
| Nevada | $71,546 | $34.40 | 312 |
| New Hampshire | $79,310 | $38.13 | 42 |
| New Jersey | $75,280 | $36.19 | 280 |
| New Mexico | $59,335 | $28.53 | 243 |
| New York | $69,998 | $33.65 | 2,389 |
| North Carolina | $70,534 | $33.91 | 1,349 |
| North Dakota | $64,490 | $31.00 | 128 |
| Ohio | $63,502 | $30.53 | 1,104 |
| Oklahoma | $59,578 | $28.64 | 266 |
| Oregon | $71,002 | $34.14 | 214 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,624 | $34.43 | 1,445 |
| Rhode Island | $75,190 | $36.15 | 39 |
| South Carolina | $56,965 | $27.39 | 416 |
| South Dakota | $57,681 | $27.73 | 118 |
| Tennessee | $61,050 | $29.35 | 569 |
| Texas | $64,473 | $31.00 | 2,791 |
| Utah | $57,159 | $27.48 | 115 |
| Vermont | $82,363 | $39.60 | 32 |
| Virginia | $74,609 | $35.87 | 471 |
| Washington | $81,818 | $39.34 | 260 |
| West Virginia | $71,436 | $34.34 | 124 |
| Wisconsin | $58,920 | $28.33 | 660 |
| Wyoming | $69,987 | $33.65 | 35 |
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Highest Paying Cities For Technical Writer
| City | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | $90,279 | $43.40 |
| San Francisco, CA | $87,500 | $42.07 |
| Washington, DC | $85,784 | $41.24 |
| Seattle, WA | $83,995 | $40.38 |
| Portland, ME | $83,843 | $40.31 |
| Annapolis, MD | $78,343 | $37.66 |
How much does a Technical Writer make?
- The average Technical Writer makes $73,703 in the United States.
- The average hourly pay for a Technical Writer is $35.43.
- The average entry-level Technical Writer salary is $52,000.
- Highest paying states for Technical Writer are Massachusetts ($90,033), Maine ($83,483), California ($90,033) and Vermont ($90,033).
- Highest paying cities for Technical Writer are San Francisco, CA ($90,279), San Francisco, CA, Washington, DC, Seattle, WA and Portland, ME.
- Technical Writers on the lower end of that spectrum, the bottom 10% to be exact, make roughly $52,000 a year, while the top 10% makes $103,000.
- The best-paid 25% made $87,000 that year, while the lowest-paid 25$ made $61,000
- Industries with the highest Technical Writer salaries are Technology, Finance and Manufacturing.
Average Technical Writer Salary Over Time
Compare salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Technical Writer Salary By Year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $73,700 | $35.43 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | $71,900 | $34.58 | +1.4% |
| 2020 | $70,900 | $34.11 | +1.3% |
| 2019 | $70,000 | $33.67 | +1.5% |
| 2018 | $69,000 | $33.16 | -0.6% |
How Much Do Technical Writers Make In Different Industries?
Highest Paying Industries For Technical Writers
| Rank | Industry | Average Technical Writer Salary | Technical Writer Salary Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $74,606 | $49k $89k |
| 2 | Finance | $74,439 | $49k $89k |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $70,659 | $49k $89k |
| 4 | Professional | $69,656 | $49k $89k |
| 5 | Health Care | $68,049 | $49k $89k |
| 6 | Government | $59,737 | $49k $89k |
High Paying Technical Writer Jobs
Average JOB Salary by Field
Avg. salary: $60,692
Avg. salary: $52,534
Avg. salary: $48,655
Avg. salary: $49,483
Avg. salary: $55,773
Avg. salary: $83,430
Average Salary By Related Field
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Publisher | $60,693 | $5,058 | $29.18 | 18,619 |
| Editor | $52,535 | $4,378 | $25.26 | 23,858 |
| Production Editor | $48,655 | $4,055 | $23.39 | 70,302 |
| News Editor | $49,484 | $4,124 | $23.79 | 20,927 |
| Journalist | $55,774 | $4,648 | $26.81 | 19,104 |
| Managing Editor | $83,431 | $6,953 | $40.11 | 25,494 |
Find High Paying Jobs Near You
Technical Writer Jobs You Might Like
- High Paying Technical Writer Jobs - $103K and Up
- Work From Home Technical Writer Jobs
- Entry Level Technical Writer Jobs
- Part Time Technical Writer Jobs
- Actively Hiring
- No Degree Technical Writer Jobs
And if you're looking for a job, here are the five top employers hiring now:
Which Companies Pay Technical Writers The Most?
Highest Paying Companies For Technical Writers
| Rank | Company | Zippia Score | Average Technical Writer Salary | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $114,915 | |||
| 2 | $114,207 | |||
| 3 | $111,994 | |||
| 4 | $106,937 | |||
| 5 | $105,824 | |||
| 6 | $103,963 |
And if you're looking for a job, here are the five top employers hiring now:
How much should you get paid?
Tell us about yourself to get a free, personalized Zippia Salary Report and suggestions on how to increase your pay.
Recently Added Technical Writer Salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date Added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perspecta | Technical Writer II | Annapolis, MD | 01/30/2022 | $61,818 |
| Jumpcloud | Technical Writer | Boston, MA | 01/29/2022 | $65,000 |
| Actalent | Technical Writer-Supply Chain | San Dimas, CA | 01/29/2022 | $62,610 |
| SAIC | Technical Writer | San Diego, CA | 01/29/2022 | $50,001 |
| The Kraft Heinz Company | Technical Writer-Temp To | Holland, MI | 01/28/2022 | $39,653 |
| Randstad Us | Technical Writer | Corning, NY | 01/28/2022 | $42,930 |
| Randstad Us | Technical Writer | Durham, NC | 01/28/2022 | $34,269 |
| Selectek | Refrigeration Technical Writer | Peachtree City, GA | 01/28/2022 | $54,262 |
| Kelly Services | Technical Writer | Pittsfield, NH | 01/28/2022 | $50,088 |
| Randstad Us | Technical Writer III | Cambridge, MA | 01/28/2022 | $93,915 |
Average Technical Writer Salary by Demographic
Technical Writer Gender Pay Gap
| Gender | Income |
|---|---|
| Male | $71,867 |
| Female | $71,312 |
Technical Writer Income by Race
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| White | $72,711 |
| Black or African American | $68,400 |
| Asian | $72,946 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $72,083 |
Technical Writer Salary by Education Level
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $79,005 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $71,312 |
Technical Writer Salaries FAQs
What is a good starting salary for a Technical Writer?
A good starting salary for a technical writer is $52,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for a technical writer in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for technical writers is $73,703, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for a technical writer can vary by state.
Do technical writers get paid well?
Yes, technical writers get paid well. A technical writer may earn a salary with a range as broad as $40,000 per year to over $100,000 per year. A technical writer's salary is determined by several different factors.
Because technical writers may need specific technical knowledge in a certain area, a technical writer's salary may be determined, in part, by the expertise they possess.
Technical writers with years of education or training in a highly specialized area of technical writing may be likely to earn a higher salary.
Additionally, general experience, education, and certifications may factor into the salary of a technical writer. Often, technical writers with years of experience writing or even leading teams on writing projects may earn an annual salary closer to the $100,000 end of the salary range.
Most technical writers will be expected to possess a bachelor's degree, but further education may make candidates more competitive and qualify them for higher salaries.
How much does a technical writer earn?
Technical writers earn between $40,000 per year and $100,00 per year. This range is very broad, though, and represents technical writers across various industries, experience levels, and specializations.
The low end of this salary range comprises entry-level work in fields that require little technical expertise from their candidates.
The higher end of this range of salaries includes highly experienced technical writers, technical writers in fields that require a foundation of specialized knowledge, and technical writers who take on project management-type roles.
For most technical writers, a higher salary comes with experience, which may be demonstrated by completed projects.
What is the starting salary for a technical writer?
The starting salary for a technical writer is between $40,000 and $70,000 per year. This range depends heavily upon the field of technical writing in question.
Because technical writers may need specific technical knowledge in a certain area, a technical writer's salary may be determined, in part, by the expertise they possess. Technical writers with a solid education in a highly specialized area of technical writing, like scientific or medical writing, may be likely to earn a higher salary.
A lower starting salary may be inevitable for technical writers who begin their careers with a more general focus on writing skills. Fortunately, a few years of experience and a portfolio of completed writing projects will improve the prospects of most technical writers by a large margin.
Technical writers with some knowledge of design, programming, or web development also tend to be a bit more competitive.