Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Technical Writer salary in Tennessee
$79,550
Median annual
$38.24
Median hourly
$82,580
Mean annual
480
Employed
The median annual wage for technical writers in Tennessee was $79,550 in May 2025, with an average of $82,580. About 480 people work in this occupation there.
That is 12% below the national median of $90,390. Compared with all occupations in Tennessee (median $47,380), technical writers earn 68% more. Its location quotient of 0.50 means the job is less common here than nationally.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $50,430, while the top 10% earned more than $108,890. Many technical writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $50,430 | $24.24 |
| 25th | $63,540 | $30.55 |
| Median | $79,550 | $38.24 |
| 75th | $102,430 | $49.25 |
| 90th | $108,890 | $52.35 |
Metro areas in Tennessee
| Metro area | Median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TN | $101,430 | 100 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $90,710 | 80 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $79,550 | 170 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.