Technical Writer Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Technical Writers in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $83,480 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $65,680 take-home, or $5,473 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$9,536
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,176
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,210
- Arizona income tax$1,878
- Take-home pay$65,680
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 2.50% state
Technical Writer pay by experience in Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,100 | $29.86 | $50,734 | $4,228 |
| 25th percentile | $69,110 | $33.23 | $55,930 | $4,661 |
| Median (50th) | $83,480 | $40.13 | $65,680 | $5,473 |
| 75th percentile | $106,480 | $51.19 | $81,285 | $6,774 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $124,810 | $60.00 | $93,662 | $7,805 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $83,480 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median technical writer's $65,680 take-home pay has the buying power of $63,572 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 Phoenix, AZ than nationally (location quotient 0.71), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for technical writers, adjusted for cost of living
Phoenix, AZ ranks #20 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 |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $83,480 | $65,680 | $63,572 |
*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 Phoenix, AZ?
The median technical writer salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $83,480 a year, or about $40.13 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $69,110 and $106,480.
What is a technical writer’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $83,480 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $65,680 a year ($5,473 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,878 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a technical writer?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $90,390. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $63,572 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #20 of 24 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a technical writer afford rent in Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median technical writer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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