Technical Writer Salary in Denver, CO
Technical Writers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $103,360 a year — 14% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $77,704 take-home, or $6,475 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median technical writer salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,909
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,408
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,499
- Colorado income tax$3,839
- Take-home pay$77,704
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.40% state
Technical Writer pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $71,460 | $34.36 | $56,666 | $4,722 |
| 25th percentile | $82,640 | $39.73 | $64,039 | $5,337 |
| Median (50th) | $103,360 | $49.69 | $77,704 | $6,475 |
| 75th percentile | $125,290 | $60.24 | $92,097 | $7,675 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,880 | $79.75 | $118,055 | $9,838 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $103,360 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median technical writer's $77,704 take-home pay has the buying power of $73,457 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Denver, CO has 1.7× 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
Denver, CO ranks #5 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 Denver, CO?
The median technical writer salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $103,360 a year, or about $49.69 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $82,640 and $125,290.
What is a technical writer’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $103,360 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $77,704 a year ($6,475 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,839 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a technical writer?
Pay here is 14% above the national median of $90,390. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $73,457 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #5 of 24 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a technical writer afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median technical writer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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