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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

27-3042 Technical Writers

Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.


National estimates for Technical Writers
Industry profile for Technical Writers
Geographic profile for Technical Writers

National estimates for Technical Writers:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Technical Writers:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
48,620 2.0 % $ 41.71 $ 86,760 1.3 %

Percentile wage estimates for Technical Writers:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 22.82 $ 29.45 $ 38.44 $ 49.10 $ 61.59
Annual Wage (2) $ 47,460 $ 61,260 $ 79,960 $ 102,120 $ 128,110


Industry profile for Technical Writers:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Technical Writers are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Technical Writers, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Technical Writers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 9,080 0.37 $ 40.42 $ 84,070
Employment Services 3,770 0.10 $ 46.49 $ 96,700
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 3,760 0.21 $ 38.52 $ 80,120
Scientific Research and Development Services 3,120 0.36 $ 49.05 $ 102,030
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 2,780 0.18 $ 41.78 $ 86,900

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Technical Writers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers 340 0.56 $ 40.57 $ 84,380
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 9,080 0.37 $ 40.42 $ 84,070
Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers 1,100 0.36 $ 30.07 $ 62,550
Software Publishers 2,190 0.36 $ 46.68 $ 97,090
Scientific Research and Development Services 3,120 0.36 $ 49.05 $ 102,030

Top paying industries for Technical Writers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) 90 0.02 $ 60.13 $ 125,070
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 340 0.09 $ 55.68 $ 115,810
Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities 240 0.02 $ 54.56 $ 113,480
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) 50 0.01 $ 52.09 $ 108,340
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 490 0.31 $ 51.45 $ 107,010


Geographic profile for Technical Writers:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Technical Writers are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Technical Writers, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of technical writers by state, May 2022


States with the highest employment level in Technical Writers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 5,600 0.32 0.97 $ 58.15 $ 120,940
Texas 3,580 0.28 0.84 $ 38.08 $ 79,200
Virginia 2,880 0.74 2.27 $ 43.29 $ 90,050
Florida 2,540 0.28 0.84 $ 36.66 $ 76,250
Pennsylvania 2,230 0.38 1.17 $ 36.06 $ 74,990


Map of location quotient of technical writers by state, May 2022


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Technical Writers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 710 1.03 3.13 $ 46.73 $ 97,200
Virginia 2,880 0.74 2.27 $ 43.29 $ 90,050
Arizona 2,160 0.71 2.17 $ 26.51 $ 55,130
Maryland 1,830 0.69 2.11 $ 44.37 $ 92,290
Colorado 1,590 0.57 1.74 $ 41.76 $ 86,870


Map of annual mean wages of technical writers by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Technical Writers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 5,600 0.32 0.97 $ 58.15 $ 120,940
Delaware 90 0.20 0.60 $ 50.09 $ 104,190
Massachusetts 1,900 0.53 1.62 $ 49.76 $ 103,490
Washington 1,530 0.45 1.37 $ 48.91 $ 101,730
New Jersey 1,360 0.33 1.01 $ 47.78 $ 99,380



Map of employment of technical writers by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Technical Writers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 2,900 0.96 2.92 $ 46.36 $ 96,440
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 2,260 0.25 0.75 $ 48.50 $ 100,890
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 1,960 0.88 2.68 $ 25.81 $ 53,690
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 1,730 0.64 1.95 $ 50.18 $ 104,380
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,430 0.23 0.71 $ 49.33 $ 102,610
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 1,160 0.49 1.48 $ 61.85 $ 128,650
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,150 0.30 0.92 $ 38.65 $ 80,400
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 1,100 0.54 1.64 $ 51.45 $ 107,010
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 970 0.35 1.06 $ 40.22 $ 83,660
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 940 0.84 2.55 (8) (8)


Map of location quotient of technical writers by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Technical Writers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California-Lexington Park, MD 100 2.02 6.15 $ 44.31 $ 92,160
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL 180 1.50 4.57 $ 38.45 $ 79,980
Huntsville, AL 340 1.42 4.31 $ 37.82 $ 78,660
Boulder, CO 250 1.32 4.01 $ 48.25 $ 100,360
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC 370 1.12 3.39 $ 48.71 $ 101,320
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ 40 1.09 3.33 $ 30.47 $ 63,380
Raleigh, NC 650 0.97 2.95 $ 47.17 $ 98,120
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 2,900 0.96 2.92 $ 46.36 $ 96,440
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 1,960 0.88 2.68 $ 25.81 $ 53,690
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 940 0.84 2.55 (8) (8)


Map of annual mean wages of technical writers by area, May 2022


Top paying metropolitan areas for Technical Writers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 1,160 0.49 1.48 $ 61.85 $ 128,650
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA 50 0.25 0.75 $ 58.46 $ 121,590
Trenton, NJ 170 0.71 2.15 $ 52.07 $ 108,310
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 1,100 0.54 1.64 $ 51.45 $ 107,010
Worcester, MA-CT 70 0.23 0.71 $ 50.54 $ 105,130
Santa Rosa, CA 40 0.21 0.65 $ 50.26 $ 104,540
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 1,730 0.64 1.95 $ 50.18 $ 104,380
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,430 0.23 0.71 $ 49.33 $ 102,610
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC 370 1.12 3.39 $ 48.71 $ 101,320
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 2,260 0.25 0.75 $ 48.50 $ 100,890

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Technical Writers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 70 0.19 0.59 $ 31.90 $ 66,360
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 70 0.68 2.08 $ 36.74 $ 76,410
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area 60 0.30 0.92 $ 32.56 $ 67,720
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 50 0.29 0.90 $ 29.96 $ 62,330
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 50 0.16 0.48 $ 32.48 $ 67,560

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Technical Writers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 70 0.68 2.08 $ 36.74 $ 76,410
Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area 40 0.49 1.49 $ 29.97 $ 62,330
Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 50 0.44 1.33 $ 25.78 $ 53,620
Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 40 0.37 1.14 $ 28.80 $ 59,900
Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 50 0.31 0.93 $ 28.63 $ 59,550

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Technical Writers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area 30 0.23 0.71 $ 37.42 $ 77,830
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 70 0.68 2.08 $ 36.74 $ 76,410
Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 40 0.22 0.68 $ 36.74 $ 76,410
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $ 35.33 $ 73,490
North Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 40 0.13 0.39 $ 32.75 $ 68,110


About May 2022 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023