Technical Writer salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
The median annual wage for technical writers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV was $99,910 in May 2025, with an average of $106,290. About 2,370 people work in this occupation there.
That is 11% above the national median of $90,390. Compared with all occupations in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (median $71,060), technical writers earn 41% more. With a location quotient of 2.58, the occupation is more concentrated here than in the US as a whole.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $72,790, while the top 10% earned more than $148,660. Many technical writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $72,790 | $34.99 |
| 25th | $80,600 | $38.75 |
| Median | $99,910 | $48.03 |
| 75th | $127,520 | $61.31 |
| 90th | $148,660 | $71.47 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.