How much does a Technical Writers make?

The median annual wage for Technical Writers is $90,390 ($43 per hour). Pay ranges from about $57,440 at the 10th percentile to $145,270 at the 90th percentile.

What is the average salary for a Technical Writers?

The average (mean) annual salary is $96,970, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.

Which state pays Technical Writerss the most?

New Jersey has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $122,320.

Is Technical Writers a growing occupation?

BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 46K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.

What does a Technical Writers do?

Organize material and complete writing assignment according to set standards regarding order, clarity, conciseness, style, and terminology.; Maintain records and files of work and revisions.; Edit, standardize, or make changes to material prepared by other writers or establishment personnel..

Technical Writers Salary

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · 46K employed in the U.S.

Median annual

$90,390

Median hourly

$43

Average annual

$96,970

Typical range

$57,440–$145,270

Pay distribution

10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.

10th$57,440

25th$70,880

Median$90,390

75th$115,510

90th$145,270

What this role pays

The median annual salary for Technical Writers is $90,390 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $43 an hour at a full-time schedule.

Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work..

Most earn between $57,440 and $145,270 a year. There are roughly 46K people employed as technical writers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.

Salary calculator

Convert your pay and see where it lands for Technical Writers.

Pay amountPay period

Hours / weekWeeks / year

Hourly: $43.46
Daily: $348
Weekly: $1,738
Bi-weekly: $3,477
Monthly: $7,533
Annual: $90,390

$90,390 a year is around the 50th percentile for Technical Writerss. The median is $90,390.

Technical Writers — U.S., May 2025
Percentile	Hourly	Annual
10th percentile	$27.60	$57,440
25th percentile	$34.10	$70,880
Median	$43.50	$90,390
75th percentile	$55.50	$115,510
90th percentile	$69.80	$145,270
Average (mean)	$46.60	$96,970
Employment	45,500 people

Key skills

Writing
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Active Learning
Judgment and Decision Making
Time Management
Monitoring
Coordination

Highest-paying states

Median annual wage by state.

1New Jersey$122,320
2District of Columbia$117,810
3Massachusetts$109,200
4Washington$104,070
5California$104,000
6Rhode Island$102,360
7Connecticut$101,870
8Maryland$100,990
9Colorado$100,610
10New York$98,310
11New Hampshire$96,300
12New Mexico$94,970

Top-paying metro areas

Median annual wage by metro area.

1San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$140,700
2San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$135,470
3Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$129,590
4Kennewick-Richland, WA$119,160
5Trenton-Princeton, NJ$117,130
6Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$111,750
7New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$111,050
8Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$107,580
9Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$106,900
10Boulder, CO$105,840
11Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$104,450
12Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$104,000

Related job titles

Employers advertise Technical Writers roles under these titles.

Related occupations

What a Technical Writers does

Organize material and complete writing assignment according to set standards regarding order, clarity, conciseness, style, and terminology.
Maintain records and files of work and revisions.
Edit, standardize, or make changes to material prepared by other writers or establishment personnel.
Select photographs, drawings, sketches, diagrams, and charts to illustrate material.
Interview production and engineering personnel and read journals and other material to become familiar with product technologies and production methods.
Assist in laying out material for publication.
Arrange for typing, duplication, and distribution of material.
Review published materials and recommend revisions or changes in scope, format, content, and methods of reproduction and binding.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Technical Writers make?: The median annual wage for Technical Writers is $90,390 ($43 per hour). Pay ranges from about $57,440 at the 10th percentile to $145,270 at the 90th percentile.
What is the average salary for a Technical Writers?: The average (mean) annual salary is $96,970, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Which state pays Technical Writerss the most?: New Jersey has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $122,320.
Is Technical Writers a growing occupation?: BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 46K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
What does a Technical Writers do?: Organize material and complete writing assignment according to set standards regarding order, clarity, conciseness, style, and terminology.; Maintain records and files of work and revisions.; Edit, standardize, or make changes to material prepared by other writers or establishment personnel..