Technical Writer Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Technical Writers in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $92,330 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $70,950 take-home, or $5,912 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$11,483
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,724
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,339
- Pennsylvania income tax$2,835
- Take-home pay$70,950
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.07% state
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Technical Writer pay by experience in Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,870 | $26.38 | $44,584 | $3,715 |
| 25th percentile | $70,410 | $33.85 | $56,202 | $4,683 |
| Median (50th) | $92,330 | $44.39 | $70,950 | $5,912 |
| 75th percentile | $114,180 | $54.89 | $85,650 | $7,138 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,350 | $79.50 | $119,206 | $9,934 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $92,330 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median technical writer's $70,950 take-home pay has the buying power of $69,183 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 about as common in Philadelphia, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.84).
Best-paying cities for technical writers, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #12 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 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $92,330 | $70,950 | $69,183 |
*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 Philadelphia, PA?
The median technical writer salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $92,330 a year, or about $44.39 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $70,410 and $114,180.
What is a technical writer’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $92,330 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $70,950 a year ($5,912 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,835 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a technical writer?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $90,390. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $69,183 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #12 of 24 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a technical writer afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 26% of a median technical writer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
- Art Director — $105,260
- Broadcast Technician — $103,180
- Commercial and Industrial Designer — $89,190
- Writer and Author — $84,130
- Producer and Director — $79,070
- Editor — $74,530
- Interior Designer — $64,800
- Public Relations Specialist — $64,550
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $63,690
- Graphic Designer — $63,090
- Audio and Video Technician — $62,320
- Interpreter and Translator — $57,940