Engineering Technical Writer Salary in the United States

How much does an Engineering Technical Writer make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Engineering Technical Writer in the United States is $74,905 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $89,459
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $66,057 to $82,523
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $58,001
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View as table View as graph 25% $66,057 10% $58,001 90% $89,459 75% $82,523 $74,905 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Engineering Technical Writer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $82,523 $6,877 $1,587 $40
Average $74,905 $6,242 $1,440 $36
25th Percentile $66,057 $5,505 $1,270 $32
Check out Engineering Technical Writer Job Openings in the United States
Engineering Technical Writer Trainer

ASD, Inc. - ELKRIDGE, MD

Technical Writer

PlanIT Group LLC - FORT WORTH, TX

Technical Writer

Systems Definition Inc - NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY, DC

Technical Writer

Cyberstrike Group - POINT MUGU NAWC, CA

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Key Factors That Influence Engineering Technical Writer Salaries

An Engineering 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 Engineering Technical Writer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Engineering 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): $72,816
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $73,062
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $76,123
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $79,504
  • Expert (over 8 years): $79,746
Levels Salary
Entry Level Engineering Technical Writer$72,816
Intermediate Level Engineering Technical Writer$73,062
Senior Level Engineering Technical Writer$76,123
Specialist Level Engineering Technical Writer$79,504
Expert Level Engineering Technical Writer$79,746
$72,816 0 yr
$73,062 < 2 yrs
$76,123 2-4 yrs
$79,504 5-8 yrs
$79,746 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Engineering Technical Writer 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 Engineering Technical Writers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $82,935.
  • California: $82,620.
  • Massachusetts: $81,519.

Top Paying Cities for Engineering 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: $94,478
  • San Francisco: $93,549
  • Oakland: $91,474

What Skills Can Increase an Engineering Technical Writer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Presentation (Mentioned in 3.56% 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.
  • PowerPoint (Mentioned in 2.41% Job Postings): A computer software created by Microsoft which allows the user to create slides with recordings, narrations, transitions and other features in order to present information.
  • Logistics (Mentioned in 1.64% Job Postings): In a general business sense, logistics is the management of the flow of things between the point of origin and the point of consumption to meet the requirements of customers or corporations.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 3.56%
PowerPoint 2.41%
Logistics 1.64%
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 an Engineering Technical Writer's salary.
  • UI: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • API: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
UI
$77,901
4%
API
$77,901
4%
Leadership
$77,152
3%
Innovation
$76,403
2%
Project Management
$76,403
2%
Analysis
$75,654
1%
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How Education impacts an Engineering Technical Writer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Engineering Technical Writers enter the field with a Associate'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 an Engineering Technical Writer with a Associate's Degree is between $74,778 and $78,819).

Engineering Technical Writer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Engineering Technical Writer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 4.7%
Associates 5.7%
Bachelors 64.7%
Masters 22.0%
Doctorate 2.7%
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Engineering Technical Writer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Engineering 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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Engineering Technical Writer

Salaries for an Engineering Technical Writer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $66,493 in 2023 to around $65,724 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Engineering Technical Writer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Engineering Technical Writer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$66,493
2024
$65,962
2025
$65,724
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $66,493
2024 $65,962
2025 $65,724
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Engineering Technical Writer

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

Here are companies hiring for Engineering Technical Writer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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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.)

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