Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Technical Writer salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$104,450
Median annual
$50.21
Median hourly
$111,700
Mean annual
60
Employed
The median annual wage for technical writers in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA was $104,450 in May 2025, with an average of $111,700. About 60 people work in this occupation there.
That is 16% above the national median of $90,390. Compared with all occupations in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA (median $51,690), technical writers earn 102% more.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $71,160, while the top 10% earned more than $149,090. Many technical writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $71,160 | $34.21 |
| 25th | $84,280 | $40.52 |
| Median | $104,450 | $50.21 |
| 75th | $135,670 | $65.23 |
| 90th | $149,090 | $71.68 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.