Software Technical Writer Salary in the United States

How much does a Software Technical Writer make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Software Technical Writer in the United States is $94,740 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $46.

However, a Software Technical Writer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $102,893
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $84,867 to $99,008
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $75,878
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View as table View as graph 25% $84,867 10% $75,878 90% $102,893 75% $99,008 $94,740 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Software Technical Writer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $99,008 $8,251 $1,904 $48
Average $94,740 $7,895 $1,822 $46
25th Percentile $84,867 $7,072 $1,632 $41
Check out Software Technical Writer Job Openings in the United States
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RGBSI - Raymond, OH

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OSI Engineering - Raymond, OH

Technical Writer

Quadax - Middleburg Heights, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Software Technical Writer Salaries

A Software Technical Writer'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 Software Technical Writer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software Technical Writer'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $64,152
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $77,102
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $96,797
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $113,481
  • Expert (over 8 years): $107,373
Levels Salary
Technical... Level Software Technical Writer$64,152
Technical... Level Software Technical Writer$77,102
Software ... Level Software Technical Writer$96,797
Technical... Level Software Technical Writer$113,481
Technical... Level Software Technical Writer$107,373
$64,152 0 yr
$77,102 < 2 yrs
$96,797 2-4 yrs
$113,481 5-8 yrs
$107,373 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Software Technical Writers

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: $119,495
  • San Francisco: $118,321
  • Oakland: $115,696

What Skills Can Increase a Software Technical Writer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Presentation (Mentioned in 3.65% 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 2.25% 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
  • Publishing (Mentioned in 1.44% Job Postings): Publishing is the dissemination of literature, music, or information. It is the activity of making information available to the general public. In some cases, authors may be their own publishers, meaning originators and developers of content also provide media to deliver and display their content. Also, the word "publisher" can refer both to an individual who leads a publishing company or an imprint and to an individual who owns/heads a magazine. Traditionally, the term refers to the distribution of printed works, such as books (the "book trade") and newspapers. With the advent of digital information systems and the Internet, the scope of publishing has expanded to include electronic resources such as the electronic versions of books and periodicals, as well as micropublishing, websites, blogs, video game publishers, and the like. Publishing includes the following stages of development: acquisition, copy editing, production, printing (and its electronic equivalents), marketing, and distribution.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 3.65%
Adobe 2.25%
Publishing 1.44%
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 Software Technical Writer's salary.
  • API: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Product Development: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • UI: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
API
$99,477
5%
Product Development
$99,477
5%
UI
$98,529
4%
Innovation
$97,582
3%
Insight
$97,582
3%
Systems Engineering
$97,582
3%
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How Education impacts a Software Technical Writer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Software Technical Writers 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 Software Technical Writer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $93,806 and $98,511).

Software Technical Writer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Software Technical Writer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 5.7%
Associates 5.9%
Bachelors 56.5%
Masters 29.6%
Doctorate 2.1%
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Software Technical Writer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Software Technical Writer'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.

Last Updated on April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Software Technical Writer

Salaries for a Software Technical Writer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $88,017 in 2023 to around $86,269 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Software Technical Writer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Software Technical Writer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$88,017
2024
$87,284
2025
$86,269
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $88,017
2024 $87,284
2025 $86,269
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Software Technical Writer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Software Technical Writer

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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