Technical Writer salary in District of Columbia
In District of Columbia, a typical technical writer earned $117,810 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $112,210. About 440 people work in this occupation there.
That is 30% above the national median of $90,390. Compared with all occupations in District of Columbia (median $91,540), technical writers earn 29% more. With a location quotient of 2.15, the occupation is more concentrated here than in the US as a whole.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $74,720, while the top 10% earned more than $148,770. Many technical writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $74,720 | $35.93 |
| 25th | $84,990 | $40.86 |
| Median | $117,810 | $56.64 |
| 75th | $128,610 | $61.83 |
| 90th | $148,770 | $71.53 |
Metro areas in District of Columbia
| Metro area | Median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $99,910 | 2,370 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.