Technical writers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Technical writers in the United States earn a median salary of $90,390 per year — about $43 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 56K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +1%.
AI & Automation Risk
Technical writing is a fully digital occupation centered on synthesizing complex information into clear documentation, a core strength of Large Language Models. AI can already draft manuals, summarize technical specs, and generate code documentation, significantly increasing individual productivity and reducing the total number of human writers needed for routine documentation tasks.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CABEST VALUE | $140,700 | Above avg (113.1) | $124,448 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $119,160 | Average (98.9) | $120,504 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $129,590 | Above avg (110.3) | $117,539 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $135,470 | Above avg (117.6) | $115,244 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $117,130 | Average (102.4) | $114,365 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $103,730 | Below avg (91.2) | $113,684 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $101,790 | Below avg (90.8) | $112,112 |
| Knoxville, TN | $101,430 | Below avg (92.2) | $109,970 |
| Savannah, GA | $103,000 | Below avg (95.9) | $107,395 |
| Boulder, CO | $105,840 | Average (100.6) | $105,194 |
| Huntsville, AL | $96,470 | Below avg (93.8) | $102,837 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $111,750 | Above avg (110.4) | $101,229 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $100,650 | Average (100.7) | $99,955 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area | $106,900 | Above avg (107.0) | $99,896 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $102,470 | Above avg (103.3) | $99,203 |