Technical Writer salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
The median annual wage for technical writers in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC was $79,340 in May 2025, with an average of $84,090. About 350 people work in this occupation there.
That is 12% below the national median of $90,390. Compared with all occupations in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC (median $49,430), technical writers earn 61% more. With a location quotient of 1.59, the occupation is more concentrated here than in the US as a whole.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $54,820, while the top 10% earned more than $120,800. Many technical writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $54,820 | $26.36 |
| 25th | $62,120 | $29.87 |
| Median | $79,340 | $38.14 |
| 75th | $97,250 | $46.76 |
| 90th | $120,800 | $58.08 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.