Technical Writer Salary in Chicago, IL
Technical Writers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $89,960 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $67,809 take-home, or $5,651 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median technical writer salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,961
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,578
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,304
- Illinois income tax$4,308
- Take-home pay$67,809
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Technical Writer pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,960 | $28.83 | $47,535 | $3,961 |
| 25th percentile | $73,150 | $35.17 | $56,815 | $4,735 |
| Median (50th) | $89,960 | $43.25 | $67,809 | $5,651 |
| 75th percentile | $108,890 | $52.35 | $80,189 | $6,682 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $135,770 | $65.27 | $97,489 | $8,124 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $89,960 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median technical writer's $67,809 take-home pay has the buying power of $65,456 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Technical Writer jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.60), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for technical writers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #19 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 |
| 19 | Chicago, IL | $89,960 | $67,809 | $65,456 |
*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 Chicago, IL?
The median technical writer salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $89,960 a year, or about $43.25 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $73,150 and $108,890.
What is a technical writer’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $89,960 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $67,809 a year ($5,651 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,308 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a technical writer?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $90,390. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $65,456 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #19 of 24 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a technical writer afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median technical writer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Art Director — $104,570
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film — $102,370
- Broadcast Technician — $96,060
- Producer and Director — $85,040
- Special Effects Artist and Animator — $83,200
- Editor — $80,380
- Public Relations Specialist — $77,050
- Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner — $76,790
- Interior Designer — $76,570
- Writer and Author — $75,940
- Sound Engineering Technician — $73,140
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $70,350