Technical Writer salary in Virginia
In Virginia, a typical technical writer earned $93,600 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $97,090. About 2,280 people work in this occupation there.
That is 4% above the national median of $90,390. Compared with all occupations in Virginia (median $55,690), technical writers earn 68% more. With a location quotient of 1.90, the occupation is more concentrated here than in the US as a whole.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $60,930, while the top 10% earned more than $139,470. Many technical writers are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $60,930 | $29.29 |
| 25th | $75,510 | $36.30 |
| Median | $93,600 | $45.00 |
| 75th | $113,510 | $54.57 |
| 90th | $139,470 | $67.05 |
Metro areas in Virginia
| Metro area | Median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville, VA | $93,530 | 40 |
| Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $85,610 | 50 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $79,340 | 350 |
| Richmond, VA | $79,200 | 180 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.