Hourly Wage for Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist Salary in the United States

What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist?

As of October 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist in the United States is $55, which translates to an annual salary of about $113,470.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $59 per hour
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $50 to $57 per hour
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $47 per hour

10% $47

50% (Median) $55

90% $59

Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$118,780	$9,898	$2,284	$57
Average	$113,470	$9,456	$2,182	$55
25th Percentile	$105,000	$8,750	$2,019	$50

Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

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Key Factors That Influence Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist Salaries

A Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Intermediate Technical Writer (2-4 years): $77,054
Senior Technical Writer (4-7 years): $96,726
Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist (7+ years): $113,463
Technical Writing/Documentation Supervisor III (7+ years): $107,352
Technical Writing/Documentation Manager (7+ years): $122,477

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Intermediate Technical Writer	2-4 years	$77,054
Senior Technical Writer	4-7 years	$96,726
Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist	7+ years	$113,463
Technical Writing/Documentation Supervisor III	7+ years	$107,352
Technical Writing/Documentation Manager	7+ years	$122,477

View as Graph

How Do Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $125,630.
California: $125,150.
Massachusetts: $123,490.

District of Columbia $125,630 California $125,150 Massachusetts $123,490 Washington $123,030 New Jersey $122,990 Alaska $122,830 Connecticut $121,260 New York $120,630

Hawaii $118,600 Rhode Island $117,640 Maryland $117,000 Minnesota $116,110 Colorado $115,770 Illinois $115,660 Oregon $115,230 Delaware $114,910

New Hampshire $114,710 Virginia $114,260 Pennsylvania $112,960 Nevada $112,300 North Dakota $112,080 Michigan $111,740 Wisconsin $111,620 Vermont $111,370

Texas $110,680 Maine $110,630 Arizona $110,560 Ohio $110,480 Georgia $109,440 Indiana $108,920 Wyoming $108,820 Utah $108,660

Iowa $108,590 Kansas $108,040 Louisiana $107,890 North Carolina $107,830 Missouri $107,810 Florida $107,360 Montana $107,130 Nebraska $106,900

Kentucky $106,770 South Carolina $106,320 Tennessee $106,040 Idaho $105,920 New Mexico $105,090 Oklahoma $104,910 Alabama $104,240 South Dakota $103,120

Arkansas $102,510 West Virginia $102,180 Mississippi $101,190

Top Paying Cities for Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

San Jose: $143,120
San Francisco: $141,550
Oakland: $138,570

San Jose, CA $143,120

San Francisco, CA $141,550

Oakland, CA $138,570

New York, NY $130,650

Paramus, NJ $129,060

Queens Village, NY $129,050

Passaic, NJ $128,940

Bergenfield, NJ $128,930

Stamford, CT $128,680

Huntington, NY $128,640

Newark, NJ $127,800

Bridgeport, CT $127,560

Vallejo, CA $127,330

New Brunswick, NJ $127,290

Petaluma, CA $127,220

Middlesex, NJ $127,000

Somerset, NJ $126,920

Santa Cruz, CA $126,780

Boston, MA $126,090

Monterey, CA $125,690

Seattle, WA $125,430

Santa Rosa, CA $125,400

Los Angeles, CA $125,370

Juneau, AK $125,080

Washington, DC $124,950

Orange, CA $124,550

Santa Ana, CA $124,250

Long Beach, CA $124,130

Anaheim, CA $124,110

Anchorage, AK $124,050

Santa Maria, CA $123,710

Everett, WA $123,690

Danbury, CT $123,290

Bremerton, WA $123,140

Tacoma, WA $122,730

New Suffolk, NY $122,720

Sacramento, CA $122,690

Santa Barbara, CA $122,570

Trenton, NJ $122,440

San Diego, CA $122,440

Brockton, MA $122,320

Fairbanks, AK $122,040

Lompoc, CA $121,750

Lowell, MA $121,660

Ventura, CA $121,640

Nashua, NH $121,610

Stockton, CA $121,600

Modesto, CA $120,780

Poughkeepsie, NY $120,530

Olympia, WA $120,310

Kennewick, WA $120,310

New Haven, CT $120,260

Lawrence, MA $119,860

Hartford, CT $119,740

Riverside, CA $119,720

New Bedford, MA $119,610

Richland, WA $119,610

Bakersfield, CA $119,450

San Bernardino, CA $119,400

New Britain, CT $119,390

Atlantic City, NJ $119,390

New London, CT $119,350

Norwich, CT $119,310

Portsmouth, NH $119,290

Boulder, CO $119,050

Portland, OR $118,890

Worcester, MA $118,880

Minneapolis, MN $118,530

Philadelphia, PA $118,370

Honolulu, HI $118,000

Saint Paul, MN $117,940

Vineland, NJ $117,920

Providence, RI $117,590

Chicago, IL $117,260

Bellingham, WA $117,120

Springfield, MA $117,030

Baltimore, MD $117,000

Chico, CA $116,710

Pittsfield, MA $116,410

Manchester, NH $116,190

Spokane, WA $115,690

Denver, CO $115,680

Albany, NY $115,150

Troy, NY $115,100

Nassau, NY $114,980

Schenectady, NY $114,860

Wilmington, DE $114,770

Burlington, VT $114,610

Salem, OR $114,570

Portland, ME $114,220

Yakima, WA $114,100

Rochester, MN $113,750

Reno, NV $113,690

Fresno, CA $113,690

Milwaukee, WI $113,590

Detroit, MI $113,480

Ann Arbor, MI $113,460

Allentown, PA $113,450

Colorado Springs, CO $113,250

Syracuse, NY $113,200

Carson City, NV $113,200

Houston, TX $113,040

Eugene, OR $112,980

Gary, IN $112,840

Springfield, OR $112,750

Bismarck, ND $112,730

Galveston, TX $112,650

Medford, OR $112,480

Fort Collins, CO $112,440

Concord, NH $112,380

Austin, TX $112,340

Mesa, AZ $112,110

Reading, PA $112,100

Phoenix, AZ $112,080

Dallas, TX $112,050

Saint Cloud, MN $111,940

Madison, WI $111,790

Utica, NY $111,480

Rochester, NY $111,300

Des Moines, IA $111,290

Raleigh, NC $111,280

Atlanta, GA $111,110

Battle Creek, MI $111,070

Salt Lake City, UT $111,040

Lancaster, PA $110,870

Harrisburg, PA $110,710

Kansas City, MO $110,600

Champaign, IL $110,570

Kansas City, KS $110,570

Fort Worth, TX $110,560

Columbus, OH $110,540

Boca Raton, FL $110,520

Pittsburgh, PA $110,470

Richmond, VA $110,430

Indianapolis, IN $110,400

Cleveland, OH $110,390

Las Vegas, NV $110,260

Cincinnati, OH $110,260

Petersburg, VA $110,090

Huntsville, AL $109,920

Lansing, MI $109,840

Lebanon, PA $109,830

Pueblo, CO $109,810

Appleton, WI $109,780

Buffalo, NY $109,740

Dayton, OH $109,700

Racine, WI $109,680

Charlotte, NC $109,670

Saint Louis, MO $109,630

York, PA $109,560

Elkhart, IN $109,560

Gastonia, NC $109,540

Billings, MT $109,520

Beaumont, TX $109,490

Lorain, OH $109,460

Benton Harbor, MI $109,440

Toledo, OH $109,420

Binghamton, NY $109,360

Rock Hill, SC $109,350

Rockford, IL $109,290

Springfield, IL $109,250

Elyria, OH $109,240

Fargo, ND $109,240

Flagstaff, AZ $109,160

Fort Lauderdale, FL $109,090

Duluth, MN $109,020

Miami, FL $109,020

Cheyenne, WY $108,940

Grand Forks, ND $108,940

Bangor, ME $108,690

Cedar Rapids, IA $108,570

Durham, NC $108,520

Louisville, KY $108,510

Grand Rapids, MI $108,490

Hialeah, FL $108,480

Casper, WY $108,320

Scranton, PA $108,180

New Orleans, LA $108,150

Virginia Beach, VA $108,140

Akron, OH $108,080

Peoria, IL $107,930

Sarasota, FL $107,910

Nashville, TN $107,830

Omaha, NE $107,830

Green Bay, WI $107,830

Baton Rouge, LA $107,770

Charleston, SC $107,750

Jamestown, NY $107,690

Davenport, IA $107,690

Tucson, AZ $107,640

Saint Petersburg, FL $107,570

Tampa, FL $107,550

Evansville, IN $107,480

Port Arthur, TX $107,480

Bradenton, FL $107,430

Santa Fe, NM $107,230

Orlando, FL $107,020

Clearwater, FL $106,990

Canton, OH $106,750

La Crosse, WI $106,750

Albuquerque, NM $106,680

Newport News, VA $106,670

High Point, NC $106,640

Ogden, UT $106,590

Corpus Christi, TX $106,500

Norfolk, VA $106,430

Laramie, WY $106,430

Rock Island, IL $106,370

Saginaw, MI $106,340

Jacksonville, FL $106,330

Salisbury, NC $106,310

Boise, ID $106,290

Moline, IL $106,230

Fort Myers, FL $106,200

Memphis, TN $106,170

Tulsa, OK $106,120

Waterloo, IA $106,050

Spartanburg, SC $105,930

Lincoln, NE $105,880

Fort Wayne, IN $105,850

Provo, UT $105,840

Cedar Falls, IA $105,710

San Antonio, TX $105,660

Greensboro, NC $105,620

South Bend, IN $105,610

Savannah, GA $105,480

Muskegon, MI $105,430

Birmingham, AL $105,420

Winston Salem, NC $105,370

Lake Charles, LA $105,090

Anderson, IN $105,070

Lexington, KY $105,040

Augusta, GA $105,000

Greenville, SC $105,000

Lima, OH $104,910

Wichita, KS $104,900

Tuscaloosa, AL $104,900

Columbia, SC $104,800

Springfield, OH $104,780

Asheville, NC $104,600

Bloomington, IN $104,520

Knoxville, TN $104,110

Shreveport, LA $104,100

Wilmington, NC $103,950

Roanoke, VA $103,950

Topeka, KS $103,740

Frankfort, KY $103,730

Oklahoma City, OK $103,650

Chillicothe, OH $103,610

Longview, TX $103,600

Melbourne, FL $103,590

Sioux Falls, SD $103,400

Mobile, AL $103,390

Terre Haute, IN $103,350

Altoona, PA $103,280

Amarillo, TX $103,200

Killeen, TX $103,170

Fayetteville, AR $103,070

Chattanooga, TN $103,040

Sioux City, IA $102,940

Idaho Falls, ID $102,920

Lynchburg, VA $102,830

Gainesville, FL $102,680

Portsmouth, OH $102,620

Little Rock, AR $102,600

Lafayette, LA $102,550

Youngstown, OH $102,550

Daytona Beach, FL $102,480

Clarksville, TN $102,470

Pensacola, FL $102,460

Temple, TX $102,450

Hopkinsville, KY $102,120

Erie, PA $102,100

Florence, SC $102,050

Charleston, WV $101,870

Great Falls, MT $101,820

Macon, GA $101,660

Tallahassee, FL $101,650

Fayetteville, NC $101,620

Waco, TX $101,600

Helena, MT $101,520

Pine Bluff, AR $101,480

Vincennes, IN $101,340

Lubbock, TX $101,290

Alamogordo, NM $101,230

Twin Falls, ID $101,120

Rapid City, SD $101,090

Huntington, WV $100,880

Jackson, MS $100,880

Greenville, MS $100,870

Parkersburg, WV $100,760

Montgomery, AL $100,740

Wichita Falls, TX $100,620

Springfield, MO $100,620

Biloxi, MS $100,570

Monroe, LA $100,450

Johnstown, PA $100,370

Sumter, SC $100,330

Columbus, GA $100,320

Pascagoula, MS $100,100

Abilene, TX $100,100

Kingsport, TN $99,810

Albany, GA $99,810

Gulfport, MS $99,770

Alexandria, LA $99,400

Fort Smith, AR $99,110

El Paso, TX $98,810

Las Cruces, NM $98,300

Harlingen, TX $98,010

Pocatello, ID $97,990

Florence, AL $97,840

Brownsville, TX $97,820

Mcallen, TX $97,580

Dothan, AL $97,420

Columbus, MS $96,750

Altus, OK $96,220

Lawton, OK $96,010

Pierre, SD $95,600

What Skills Can Increase a Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Presentation (Mentioned in 3.62% Job Postings): Presentation conveys information from a speaker to an audience. Presentations are typically demonstrations, introduction, lecture, or speech meant to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate, build goodwill, or present a new idea/product.
Adobe (Mentioned in 2.24% Job Postings): A mixture of wet earth and grass made into bricks and dried in the sun, used to build houses. It originated from the oral form of Arabic al-tob, meaning "brick," It is the first materials used to create buildings in the 8th century B.C
HTML (Mentioned in 1.45% Job Postings): A computer language that used in creating, updating and maintaining text, graphics and links in a website.

Skills	Demand Percentage
Presentation	3.62%
Adobe	2.24%
HTML	1.45%

See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist's salary.

API: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
UI: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
Computer Science: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
API	$130,491	15%
UI	$130,491	15%
Computer Science	$130,491	15%

Get Latest Data

Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $126,677. While startup companies pay approximate $107,264.

Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist Salary by Company Size

Company Size	Employees	Average Salary
Startup	1~50	$107,264
Growth Stage	51~500	$113,418
Established	501~5000	$122,317
Enterprise	5000+	$126,677

Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Transportation and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average. In contrast, Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist positions in Telecom or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Transportation	$124,817	$60.0	10%
Software & Networking	$123,682	$59.0	9%
Pharmaceuticals	$122,548	$59.0	8%
MFG Durable	$121,413	$58.0	7%
Internet	$120,278	$58.0	6%

How Education impacts a Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialists enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $112,108 and $118,006).

Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist Salaries by Degree Level

$119,200
$118,200
$117,200
$116,200
$115,200
$114,200
$113,200
$112,200

Typical Education for Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist
Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	0.3%
High School	3.5%
Associates	5.6%
Bachelors	51.7%
Masters	35.1%
Doctorate	3.8%

View as Graph

Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

$105,000

Average $113,470/year

$118,780

$8,750

Average $9,456/month

$9,898

$2,019

Average $2,182/week

$2,284

$50

Average $55/hour

$57

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$118,780	$9,898	$2,284	$57
Average	$113,470	$9,456	$2,182	$55
25th Percentile	$105,000	$8,750	$2,019	$50

Salary Trends for Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist

Salaries for a Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $108,789 in 2023 to around $108,937 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist Over Time

$???
$108,789
$109,235
$108,937
$???
$???

2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$108,789
2024	$109,235
2025	$108,937
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist

Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist

Here are companies hiring for Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.

C $128,509/per year

C R Bard Inc Biotechnology the United States

H $124,697/per year

Henry Schein Canada Biotechnology the United States

N $123,899/per year

Nordex Inc Biotechnology the United States

N $120,416/per year

Nipro Corp Biotechnology the United States

E $115,870/per year

Enovis Biotechnology the United States

A $114,553/per year

Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy Biotechnology the United States

M $112,110/per year

MiniMed Inc Biotechnology the United States

L $111,500/per year

Labcorp Drug Development Biotechnology the United States

L $110,229/per year

Life Technologies Corp Biotechnology the United States

Z $106,224/per year

Zimmer Biomet Biotechnology the United States

P $103,077/per year

Promontory Therapeutics Biotechnology the United States

S $102,181/per year

Steris PLC Biotechnology the United States

G $97,274/per year

Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd Biotechnology the United States

E $94,764/per year

Endeavor BioMedicines Biotechnology the United States

R $94,402/per year

Replay Holdings LLC Biotechnology the United States

P $94,235/per year

Pleno Inc Biotechnology the United States

S $93,666/per year

Simulaids Inc Biotechnology the United States

N $88,880/per year

NOIRLab/CAS Biotechnology the United States

O $86,468/per year

Onward Technology Biotechnology the United States

L $84,895/per year

LED Medical Diagnostics Inc Biotechnology the United States

E $84,682/per year

Eyeco Ltd Biotechnology the United States

P $84,523/per year

Paerosol Biotechnology the United States

I $83,525/per year

IONIQ Sciences Inc Biotechnology the United States

S $82,815/per year

Stateside PPE Biotechnology the United States

D $82,041/per year

Digi Bio Biotechnology the United States

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FAQ about Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist?

The Transportation industry offers the highest average compensation for Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

2. Who gets paid more tech lead or manager?

A software engineering manager typically earns more than a tech lead due to their broader responsibilities. For instance, a Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist has a salary range from $108,000 to $128,400, with a midpoint of $117,850. This suggests that while tech leads earn well, managers generally receive higher compensation reflecting their greater oversight and leadership roles.

3. What is the highest paid tech job in the US?

The highest paid tech job in the US varies, but a Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist earns between $108,000 and $128,400 annually, with a mid-salary of $117,850. Other top-paying roles include Cloud Architect and Data Scientist, with salaries significantly higher, reflecting the demand for specialized skills in the tech industry.

4. What is the hourly rate for a technical project manager in USA?

As of January 15, 2025, the average annual pay for a Technical Project Manager in the United States ranges from $108,000 to $128,400, with a midpoint of $117,850. This translates to an hourly rate of approximately $51.92 to $61.73, or about $2,077 to $2,500 per week, and $8,993 to $10,833 per month.

5. What is the salary of lead technical author?

The salary for a Lead Technical Author typically ranges from $108,000 to $128,400. Entry-level positions may start around $108,000, while experienced professionals can earn up to $128,400, with a mid-range salary of approximately $117,850.

6. Can technical writers make 6 figures?

Yes, technical writers can indeed make six figures. The salary range for a Technical Writer - Project Lead Specialist is between $108,000 and $128,400, with a mid-salary of $117,850. This lucrative compensation reflects the demand for skilled professionals in this field, particularly in specialized industries.

7. How much do lead technical writers make?

Lead Technical Writers can expect to earn between $108,000 and $128,400 annually, with a median salary of approximately $117,850. This range reflects the competitive nature of the role, offering a solid compensation package compared to other regions.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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