Technical Writers Salary
BLS May 2025 median wages — with computed take-home after taxes for all 45 reporting states. Tax year 2026.
Quick answer
According to payandtaxes.com's analysis of BLS May 2025 data, the median technical writers in the US earns $90,390 per year (45,500 employed). Gross pay is highest in New Jersey ($122,320) and lowest in Arkansas ($61,180) — but what you keep depends on the state's taxes; see the table.
Technical Writers pay by stategross median vs take-home
| State | Median wage | After taxes | Monthly net | Kept | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technical Writers in New Jersey | $122,320 | $89,268 | $7,439 | 73% | 1,550 |
| Technical Writers in Washington DC | $117,810 | $84,664 | $7,055 | 71.9% | 440 |
| Technical Writers in Massachusetts | $109,200 | $80,412 | $6,701 | 73.6% | 1,850 |
| Technical Writers in Washington | $104,070 | $82,043 | $6,837 | 78.8% | 1,620 |
| Technical Writers in California | $104,000 | $76,552 | $6,379 | 73.6% | 5,280 |
| Technical Writers in Rhode Island | $102,360 | $77,580 | $6,465 | 75.8% | 150 |
| Technical Writers in Connecticut | $101,870 | $76,468 | $6,372 | 75.1% | 770 |
| Technical Writers in Maryland | $100,990 | $75,443 | $6,287 | 74.7% | 1,780 |
| Technical Writers in Colorado | $100,610 | $75,891 | $6,324 | 75.4% | 1,320 |
| Technical Writers in New York | $98,310 | $73,231 | $6,103 | 74.5% | 1,610 |
| Technical Writers in New Hampshire | $96,300 | $76,577 | $6,381 | 79.5% | 230 |
| Technical Writers in New Mexico | $94,970 | $72,319 | $6,027 | 76.1% | 420 |
| Technical Writers in Virginia | $93,600 | $70,110 | $5,842 | 74.9% | 2,280 |
| Technical Writers in Delaware | $90,370 | $67,782 | $5,649 | 75% | 80 |
| Technical Writers in Nevada | $88,750 | $71,266 | $5,939 | 80.3% | 230 |
| Technical Writers in Illinois | $88,700 | $66,985 | $5,582 | 75.5% | 1,040 |
| Technical Writers in Vermont | $87,860 | $67,301 | $5,608 | 76.6% | 60 |
| Technical Writers in Pennsylvania | $87,620 | $67,781 | $5,648 | 77.4% | 1,330 |
| Technical Writers in North Carolina | $86,320 | $66,621 | $5,552 | 77.2% | 2,860 |
| Technical Writers in Florida | $86,240 | $69,500 | $5,792 | 80.6% | 2,550 |
| Technical Writers in Alabama | $85,840 | $65,192 | $5,433 | 75.9% | 630 |
| Technical Writers in Michigan | $85,270 | $65,444 | $5,454 | 76.7% | 970 |
| Technical Writers in Oregon | $84,000 | $61,404 | $5,117 | 73.1% | 590 |
| Technical Writers in Minnesota | $83,270 | $63,272 | $5,273 | 76% | 910 |
| Technical Writers in Alaska | $83,200 | $67,361 | $5,613 | 81% | 130 |
| Technical Writers in Texas | $82,750 | $67,045 | $5,587 | 81% | 3,340 |
| Technical Writers in South Carolina | $82,540 | $63,102 | $5,258 | 76.4% | 700 |
| Technical Writers in Kentucky | $81,070 | $63,143 | $5,262 | 77.9% | 340 |
| Technical Writers in Missouri | $80,840 | $62,839 | $5,237 | 77.7% | 500 |
| Technical Writers in Utah | $80,270 | $61,688 | $5,141 | 76.9% | 570 |
| Technical Writers in Wisconsin | $80,030 | $62,270 | $5,189 | 77.8% | 910 |
| Technical Writers in Arizona | $79,780 | $63,170 | $5,264 | 79.2% | 730 |
| Technical Writers in Tennessee | $79,550 | $64,794 | $5,399 | 81.5% | 480 |
| Technical Writers in Ohio | $76,480 | $61,313 | $5,109 | 80.2% | 1,350 |
| Technical Writers in Indiana | $75,510 | $59,753 | $4,979 | 79.1% | 540 |
| Technical Writers in Montana | $75,070 | $58,761 | $4,897 | 78.3% | 160 |
| Technical Writers in Kansas | $73,550 | $57,268 | $4,772 | 77.9% | 480 |
| Technical Writers in Georgia | $73,070 | $57,065 | $4,755 | 78.1% | 1,680 |
| Technical Writers in North Dakota | $72,990 | $60,014 | $5,001 | 82.2% | 70 |
| Technical Writers in Oklahoma | $69,760 | $55,313 | $4,609 | 79.3% | 600 |
| Technical Writers in Iowa | $66,520 | $53,751 | $4,479 | 80.8% | 640 |
| Technical Writers in Mississippi | $65,220 | $52,707 | $4,392 | 80.8% | 70 |
| Technical Writers in Louisiana | $63,790 | $51,908 | $4,326 | 81.4% | 320 |
| Technical Writers in South Dakota | $63,350 | $53,082 | $4,423 | 83.8% | 70 |
| Technical Writers in Arkansas | $61,180 | $49,165 | $4,097 | 80.4% | 150 |
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