Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Technical Writer salary in California
$104,000
Median annual
$50.00
Median hourly
$117,060
Mean annual
5,280
Employed
The median annual wage for technical writers in California was $104,000 in May 2025, with an average of $117,060. About 5,280 people work in this occupation there.
That is 15% above the national median of $90,390. Compared with all occupations in California (median $58,240), technical writers earn 79% more.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $69,630, while the top 10% earned more than $175,510. Many technical writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $69,630 | $33.48 |
| 25th | $84,250 | $40.51 |
| Median | $104,000 | $50.00 |
| 75th | $141,280 | $67.92 |
| 90th | $175,510 | $84.38 |
Metro areas in California
| Metro area | Median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $140,700 | 920 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $135,470 | 1,020 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $129,590 | 40 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $104,450 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $104,000 | 1,460 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $101,750 | 520 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $98,800 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $94,400 | 190 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $85,500 | 140 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $76,170 | 40 |
| Fresno, CA | $76,030 | 60 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.