Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Technical Writer salary in the US
$90,390
Median annual
$43.46
Median hourly
$145,270
Top 10% earn over
45,500
Employed
The median annual wage for technical writers in the United States was $90,390 in May 2025, with an average of $96,970. About 45,500 people work in this occupation there.
Compared with all occupations in the United States (median $50,980), technical writers earn 77% more.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $57,440, while the top 10% earned more than $145,270. Many technical writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Technical Writer salary by state
| State | Median | Mean | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $122,320 | $116,550 | $69,400 | $163,390 | 1,550 |
| District of Columbia | $117,810 | $112,210 | $74,720 | $148,770 | 440 |
| Massachusetts | $109,200 | $114,610 | $71,120 | $165,060 | 1,850 |
| Washington | $104,070 | $109,840 | $60,420 | $169,810 | 1,620 |
| California | $104,000 | $117,060 | $69,630 | $175,510 | 5,280 |
| Rhode Island | $102,360 | $97,050 | $77,480 | $115,380 | 150 |
| Connecticut | $101,870 | $100,400 | $63,710 | $127,830 | 770 |
| Maryland | $100,990 | $104,800 | $72,880 | $149,740 | 1,780 |
| Colorado | $100,610 | $107,560 | $69,730 | $160,950 | 1,320 |
| New York | $98,310 | $100,460 | $53,560 | $152,570 | 1,610 |
| New Hampshire | $96,300 | $96,440 | $63,500 | $130,970 | 230 |
| New Mexico | $94,970 | $99,160 | $53,280 | $130,260 | 420 |
| Virginia | $93,600 | $97,090 | $60,930 | $139,470 | 2,280 |
| Delaware | $90,370 | $89,480 | $60,990 | $117,210 | 80 |
| Nevada | $88,750 | $91,130 | $56,710 | $124,800 | 230 |
| Illinois | $88,700 | $92,610 | $58,800 | $130,890 | 1,040 |
| Vermont | $87,860 | $101,220 | $61,220 | $223,650 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $87,620 | $95,660 | $54,220 | $158,180 | 1,330 |
| North Carolina | $86,320 | $91,620 | $53,790 | $139,950 | 2,860 |
| Florida | $86,240 | $92,090 | $59,520 | $132,380 | 2,550 |
| Alabama | $85,840 | $92,180 | $60,700 | $123,140 | 630 |
| Michigan | $85,270 | $90,780 | $57,600 | $127,070 | 970 |
| Oregon | $84,000 | $95,890 | $58,990 | $150,220 | 590 |
| Minnesota | $83,270 | $88,770 | $58,670 | $127,390 | 910 |
| Alaska | $83,200 | $80,420 | $61,020 | $102,120 | 130 |
| Texas | $82,750 | $88,140 | $50,590 | $127,920 | 3,340 |
| South Carolina | $82,540 | $85,310 | $57,360 | $120,930 | 700 |
| Kentucky | $81,070 | $83,190 | $54,300 | $120,350 | 340 |
| Missouri | $80,840 | $92,480 | $51,170 | $192,040 | 500 |
| Utah | $80,270 | $85,950 | $50,610 | $132,590 | 570 |
| Wisconsin | $80,030 | $84,910 | $56,460 | $119,930 | 910 |
| Arizona | $79,780 | $86,510 | $60,100 | $119,930 | 730 |
| Tennessee | $79,550 | $82,580 | $50,430 | $108,890 | 480 |
| Ohio | $76,480 | $82,920 | $48,970 | $125,150 | 1,350 |
| Indiana | $75,510 | $78,400 | $52,350 | $106,680 | 540 |
| Montana | $75,070 | $76,000 | $65,630 | $89,280 | 160 |
| Kansas | $73,550 | $74,930 | $49,250 | $102,440 | 480 |
| Georgia | $73,070 | $82,400 | $57,970 | $122,290 | 1,680 |
| North Dakota | $72,990 | $79,690 | $50,460 | $110,150 | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $69,760 | $72,660 | $48,130 | $103,440 | 600 |
| Iowa | $66,520 | $72,130 | $52,750 | $98,970 | 640 |
| Mississippi | $65,220 | $69,480 | $45,740 | $85,980 | 70 |
| Louisiana | $63,790 | $72,730 | $53,220 | $94,680 | 320 |
| South Dakota | $63,350 | $65,090 | $49,490 | $84,090 | 70 |
| Arkansas | $61,180 | $63,460 | $45,170 | $81,330 | 150 |
| Puerto Rico | $46,950 | $52,070 | $28,440 | $97,070 | 60 |
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Excludes self-employed workers.