Technical Writer Salary in Boston, MA
Technical Writers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $111,750 a year — 24% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $82,079 take-home, or $6,840 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median technical writer salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$15,755
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,929
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,620
- Massachusetts income tax$5,368
- Take-home pay$82,079
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Technical Writer pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $70,040 | $33.67 | $54,821 | $4,568 |
| 25th percentile | $86,060 | $41.38 | $65,290 | $5,441 |
| Median (50th) | $111,750 | $53.73 | $82,079 | $6,840 |
| 75th percentile | $135,600 | $65.19 | $97,389 | $8,116 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,670 | $79.65 | $116,438 | $9,703 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $111,750 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median technical writer's $82,079 take-home pay has the buying power of $75,812 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Boston, MA has 2.0× the national concentration of technical writer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for technical writers, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #4 of 24 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $140,700 | $96,750 | $87,617 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $135,470 | $93,730 | $81,072 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $107,580 | $84,513 | $76,046 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $111,750 | $82,079 | $75,812 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $103,360 | $77,704 | $73,457 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $102,140 | $76,197 | $72,925 |
| 7 | Raleigh, NC | $93,580 | $71,438 | $72,780 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $88,360 | $70,991 | $72,391 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 24 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a technical writer make in Boston, MA?
The median technical writer salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $111,750 a year, or about $53.73 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $86,060 and $135,600.
What is a technical writer’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $111,750 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $82,079 a year ($6,840 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,368 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a technical writer?
Pay here is 24% above the national median of $90,390. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $75,812 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #4 of 24 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a technical writer afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 33% of a median technical writer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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