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Technical writer: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$90,390median pay per year, or $43.46 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $57,440lowest 10% earn less
  2. $70,88025th percentile
  3. $90,390median
  4. $115,51075th percentile
  5. $145,270top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Technical writers earned a median of $90,390 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow only 0.8% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+0.8%[2]
Openings per year
3,200[5]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[6]

How much do technical writers make?

The median pay for technical writers was $90,390 a year, or $43.46 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $96,970 a year, or $46.62 an hour[7]. For all occupations, the median was $50,980[4], so technical writers earned well above the typical US job.

The range is wide. BLS publishes percentile wages, which are boundaries and not a starting salary[8]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $57,440 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $145,270[3].

Measure Annual Hourly
10th percentile[3][9] $57,440 $27.62
25th percentile[3][9] $70,880 $34.08
Median[1] $90,390 $43.46
75th percentile[3][9] $115,510 $55.53
90th percentile[3][9] $145,270 $69.84

These figures cover workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out self-employed people, and they do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[10].

Pay by state and city

New Jersey had the highest state median at $122,320[11]. The District of Columbia followed at $117,810 and Massachusetts at $109,200[11]. The lowest medians among states with published data were in Arkansas at $61,180 and South Dakota at $63,350[11].

California had the most jobs at 5,280, then Texas at 3,340 and North Carolina at 2,860[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median at $140,700[13]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont came next at $135,470, then Trenton-Princeton at $117,130[13]. The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area had the most jobs at 2,370, with a median of $99,910[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had 2,170 jobs[14].

Show median pay in 44 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
New Jersey[11]$122,3201,550
District of Columbia$117,810440
Massachusetts$109,2001,850
Washington$104,0701,620
California$104,0005,280
Rhode Island$102,360150
Connecticut$101,870770
Maryland$100,9901,780
Colorado$100,6101,320
New York$98,3101,610
New Hampshire$96,300230
New Mexico$94,970420
Virginia$93,6002,280
Delaware$90,37080
Nevada$88,750230
Illinois$88,7001,040
Vermont$87,86060
Pennsylvania$87,6201,330
North Carolina$86,3202,860
Florida$86,2402,550
Alabama$85,840630
Michigan$85,270970
Oregon$84,000590
Minnesota$83,270910
Alaska$83,200130
Texas$82,7503,340
South Carolina$82,540700
Kentucky$81,070340
Missouri$80,840500
Utah$80,270570
Wisconsin$80,030910
Arizona$79,780730
Tennessee$79,550480
Ohio$76,4801,350
Indiana$75,510540
Montana$75,070160
Kansas$73,550480
Georgia$73,0701,680
North Dakota$72,99070
Oklahoma$69,760600
Iowa$66,520640
Mississippi$65,22070
Louisiana$63,790320
South Dakota$63,35070
Arkansas$61,180150

How to become a technical writer

BLS lists this typical path[6][15].

Some associations offer certification. It is not mandatory, but it can make candidates more attractive to employers[19]. In an O*NET survey of 24 workers, 35% said a 2-year degree is required and 33% said a bachelor's degree[20]. A survey this small is a rough picture only.

What technical writers do

O*NET describes the work as writing technical materials such as equipment manuals and operating or maintenance instructions[21]. Common tasks include:

BLS also lists skills such as precision, teamwork and the ability to explain complex information to people without a technical background[23][24][25].

Where technical writers work

BLS says most technical writers work full time and often work with engineers and other technology experts[26]. Evenings and weekends may be needed to meet deadlines[27]. Professional, scientific, and technical services was the largest employer group, at 39% of jobs in 2025[28]. Most are employed directly by the companies that use their work, and some freelance[29]. Only 1% were self-employed in 2025[30]. Jobs tend to cluster where there are many information technology or research companies, such as in California and Texas[31].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 0.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 46,400 jobs to 46,700[2]. All occupations together are projected to grow 3.5%[32]. BLS names AI tools as a factor. As their use grows, writers can produce documentation more efficiently, and the occupation's share of employment is expected to fall[33].

About 3,200 openings a year are projected on average[5]. Openings count retirements and moves to other occupations as well as new jobs[5]. Each year, 2.6% of workers leave the labor force and 4.3% move to a different occupation[34].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show pay well above the all-occupations median[1][4]. Entry typically needs a bachelor's degree, and employers favor writing-related fields[6][16]. Growth is slow compared with all occupations[2][32], and AI tools are named as a factor[33]. Pay depends on place, with state medians running from $61,180 to $122,320[11].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a technical writer make an hour?
The median was $43.46 an hour in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $27.62 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $69.84[9].
What degree do you need to be a technical writer?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education[6]. Employers tend to favor degrees in English, communications or journalism, or a similar subject[16].
Is technical writing in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 0.8% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[2][32]. About 3,200 openings a year are projected[5].
What is the highest paying state for technical writers?
New Jersey, with a median of $122,320[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Technical Writers in the US was $90,390 per year and $43.46 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Technical Writers is projected to grow 0.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 46,400 to 46,700 jobs (a change of +400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Technical Writers: 10th percentile $57,440, 25th percentile $70,880, 75th percentile $115,510, 90th percentile $145,270. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 3,200 openings for Technical Writers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Technical Writers: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Technical Writers was $96,970 per year and $46.62 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Technical Writers: 10th percentile $27.62, 25th percentile $34.08, 75th percentile $55.53, 90th percentile $69.84. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Technical Writers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Technical Writers jobs: California 5,280; Texas 3,340; North Carolina 2,860; Florida 2,550; Virginia 2,280. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Technical Writers (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $140,700; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $135,470; Trenton-Princeton, NJ $117,130; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $111,750; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $111,050; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $107,580; Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $106,900; Boulder, CO $105,840. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Technical Writers jobs: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 2,370 (median $99,910); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 2,170 (median $111,050); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 1,590 (median $111,750); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,460 (median $104,000); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 1,220 (median $107,580); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,030 (median $86,520). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. O*NET 27-3042.00 survey of workers (24 respondents), education level they say is required: Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 35%, Bachelor's Degree 33%, Some College Courses 16%, Post-Secondary Certificate 7%, Master's Degree 5% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  21. O*NET description of Technical Writers. O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET task list for Technical Writers. O*NET OnLine
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of technical writers in 2025: Professional, scientific, and technical services 39%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. BLS Employment Projections: 1% of Technical Writers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Technical Writers: Productivity change - share decreases as the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools grows, allowing technical writers to produce documentation more efficiently. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Technical Writers: 2.6% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.