Technical Writer salary in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
The median annual wage for technical writers in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA was $129,590 in May 2025, with an average of $127,330. About 40 people work in this occupation there.
That is 43% above the national median of $90,390. Compared with all occupations in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA (median $56,850), technical writers earn 128% more. Its location quotient of 0.72 means the job is less common here than nationally.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $82,860, while the top 10% earned more than $168,030. Many technical writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $82,860 | $39.84 |
| 25th | $106,510 | $51.21 |
| Median | $129,590 | $62.30 |
| 75th | $143,520 | $69.00 |
| 90th | $168,030 | $80.78 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.