Technical Writer Salary in Seattle, WA
Technical Writers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $107,580 a year — 19% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $84,513 take-home, or $7,043 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median technical writer salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,838
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,670
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,560
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$84,513
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Technical Writer pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,900 | $29.28 | $51,113 | $4,259 |
| 25th percentile | $81,950 | $39.40 | $66,482 | $5,540 |
| Median (50th) | $107,580 | $51.72 | $84,513 | $7,043 |
| 75th percentile | $142,130 | $68.33 | $108,412 | $9,034 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $175,010 | $84.14 | $130,885 | $10,907 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $107,580 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median technical writer's $84,513 take-home pay has the buying power of $76,046 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Seattle, WA 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
Seattle, WA ranks #3 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 Seattle, WA?
The median technical writer salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $107,580 a year, or about $51.72 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $81,950 and $142,130.
What is a technical writer’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $107,580 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $84,513 a year ($7,043 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a technical writer?
Pay here is 19% above the national median of $90,390. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $76,046 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #3 of 24 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a technical writer afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median technical writer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
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- Producer and Director — $86,680
- Editor — $79,660
- Interior Designer — $78,810
- Graphic Designer — $76,720
- Audio and Video Technician — $69,270
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- Photographer — $51,790