Technical Writers pay in California
In California, the median pay for technical writers is $50.00 an hour ($104,000 a year). About 5,280 people work in this job there.
That is 15% higher than the U.S. median ($90,390). California ranks 5th of 45 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for technical writers in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $33.48 | $69,630 |
| 25% of workers | $40.51 | $84,250 |
| Half of workers (median) | $50.00 | $104,000 |
| 75% of workers | $67.92 | $141,280 |
| 90% of workers | $84.38 | $175,510 |
Technical Writers pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $140,700 | 920 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $135,470 | 1,020 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $129,590 | 40 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $104,450 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $104,000 | 1,460 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $101,750 | 520 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $98,800 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $94,400 | 190 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $85,500 | 140 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $76,170 | 40 |
| Fresno | $76,030 | 60 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for technical writers
- Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +0.8% over ten years, little or no change · about 3,200 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Management Analysts | $101,460 |
| Project Management Specialists | $120,910 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $134,440 |
| Data Scientists | $141,590 |
| Industrial Engineers | $124,600 |
| Editors | $98,030 |
| Writers and Authors | $86,480 |
| Social Science Research Assistants | $60,250 |
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: 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. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.