Technical Writers Salary in California (2025)
Official BLS OEWS data · May 2025 · 5,280 employed
Annual Mean
$117,060
$56.28/hr
Annual Median
$104,000
$50.00/hr
Bottom 10%
$69,630
$33.48/hr
Top 10%
$175,510
$84.38/hr
Location vs National Average
California
$117,060
Difference
+20.7% vs US avg
US National
$96,970
Salary Percentile Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual |
|---|---|
10th Percentile Bottom 10% | $69,630 |
25th Percentile Lower quarter | $84,250 |
50th PercentileMedian Median | $104,000 |
75th Percentile Upper quarter | $141,280 |
90th Percentile Top 10% | $175,510 |
Salary Distribution
Annual Salary Range
10th
$70K
25th
$84K
Median
$104K
75th
$141K
90th
$176K
California has a moderate number of Technical Writers positions (approximately 5,280), reflecting steady demand in this occupation.
In California, Technical Writers salaries range from $69,630 at the 10th percentile to $175,510 at the 90th percentile — a spread of $105,880 (102% of the median). This wide range suggests significant variation based on experience and employer in this area.
Top Paying Cities in California
Metro areas with highest Technical Writers wages
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$139,970
per year
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$137,560
per year
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$127,330
per year
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$111,700
per year
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$109,020
per year
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$103,570
per year
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$103,080
per year
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$102,480
per year
How Technical Writers Compares in California
The average Technical Writers salary of $117,060 in California ranks above the national average of $96,970. There are approximately 5,280 Technical Writerss employed in California.
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Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Public domain · Not affiliated with BLS.