Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Technical Writer salary in Illinois
$88,700
Median annual
$42.65
Median hourly
$92,610
Mean annual
1,040
Employed
The median annual wage for technical writers in Illinois was $88,700 in May 2025, with an average of $92,610. About 1,040 people work in this occupation there.
That is roughly in line with the national median. Compared with all occupations in Illinois (median $51,960), technical writers earn 71% more. Its location quotient of 0.58 means the job is less common here than nationally.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $58,800, while the top 10% earned more than $130,890. Many technical writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $58,800 | $28.27 |
| 25th | $73,140 | $35.16 |
| Median | $88,700 | $42.65 |
| 75th | $106,650 | $51.27 |
| 90th | $130,890 | $62.93 |
Metro areas in Illinois
| Metro area | Median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $89,960 | 790 |
| Peoria, IL | $87,090 | 40 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.