Technical Writer salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
The median annual wage for technical writers in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA was $135,470 in May 2025, with an average of $137,560. About 1,020 people work in this occupation there.
That is 50% above the national median of $90,390. Compared with all occupations in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (median $74,260), technical writers earn 82% more. With a location quotient of 1.46, the occupation is more concentrated here than in the US as a whole.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $78,810, while the top 10% earned more than $207,360. Many technical writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $78,810 | $37.89 |
| 25th | $93,920 | $45.15 |
| Median | $135,470 | $65.13 |
| 75th | $169,550 | $81.51 |
| 90th | $207,360 | $99.69 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.