Technical Writers Salary in Dubuque, IA
In Dubuque, IA, technical writers earn $54,490 at the median — $26.2 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $82K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.33), which stretches that salary to about $62,396 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,077/month — about 30.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $54K get you in Dubuque?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Dubuque’s Regional Price Parity (87.33). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About technical writers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Dubuque, IA
Entry-level technical writers (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $82K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Technical Writers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $109K | +19% | 1,040 |
| Massachusetts | $103K | +12% | 1,750 |
| Rhode Island | $101K | +10% | 410 |
| California | $100K | +10% | 13,210 |
| Maryland | $98K | +7% | 1,770 |
| Washington | $93K | +2% | 1,680 |
| New Hampshire | $92K | +0% | 170 |
| District of Columbia | $89K | -3% | 550 |
| North Carolina | $87K | -5% | 2,000 |
| New Jersey | $87K | -5% | 1,350 |
| Nevada | $86K | -6% | 200 |
| Virginia | $84K | -8% | 2,520 |
| Vermont | $84K | -9% | 80 |
| Oregon | $83K | -9% | 650 |
| New York | $83K | -9% | 2,030 |
| Arizona | $82K | -10% | 710 |
| Missouri | $81K | -11% | 580 |
| Florida | $81K | -12% | 2,590 |
| Alaska | $81K | -12% | N/A |
| Alabama | $81K | -12% | 830 |
| Illinois | $80K | -13% | 1,180 |
| Idaho | $79K | -13% | 270 |
| Texas | $79K | -14% | 3,670 |
| Pennsylvania | $79K | -14% | 1,390 |
| New Mexico | $79K | -14% | 390 |
| Michigan | $79K | -14% | 1,170 |
| South Carolina | $79K | -14% | 520 |
| Indiana | $78K | -15% | 1,070 |
| Tennessee | $77K | -16% | 650 |
| Minnesota | $77K | -16% | 1,210 |
| Wisconsin | $76K | -17% | 780 |
| Utah | $75K | -18% | 620 |
| Georgia | $72K | -21% | 1,710 |
| Kansas | $72K | -21% | 350 |
| Kentucky | $71K | -23% | 330 |
| Ohio | $71K | -23% | 1,570 |
| Maine | $71K | -23% | N/A |
| Oklahoma | $67K | -27% | 680 |
| North Dakota | $66K | -28% | 60 |
| Nebraska | $65K | -29% | 220 |
| Iowa | $64K | -31% | 680 |
| Montana | $63K | -31% | 50 |
| Mississippi | $63K | -32% | 100 |
| Arkansas | $62K | -32% | 130 |
| West Virginia | $62K | -32% | 80 |
| South Dakota | $60K | -34% | 100 |
| Louisiana | $59K | -35% | 250 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track technical writers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Dubuque numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do technical writers make in Dubuque, IA?
The median is $54,490 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,080, and experienced technical writers can clear $82,310. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in Dubuque?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,595/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,077/month, which eats 30% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a technical writers salary go in Dubuque?
Dubuque has a Regional Price Parity of 87.33 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median technical writers salary is worth about $62,396 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do technical writers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.