Technical Writer salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
The median annual wage for technical writers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC was $94,520 in May 2025, with an average of $102,150. About 390 people work in this occupation there.
That is 5% above the national median of $90,390. Compared with all occupations in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (median $60,720), technical writers earn 56% more. With a location quotient of 3.90, the occupation is more concentrated here than in the US as a whole.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $53,790, while the top 10% earned more than $167,380. Many technical writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $53,790 | $25.86 |
| 25th | $73,000 | $35.09 |
| Median | $94,520 | $45.44 |
| 75th | $124,090 | $59.66 |
| 90th | $167,380 | $80.47 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.