Technical Writers Salary
In Kennewick-Richland, WA, technical writers earn $119,160 at the median, or about $57.29 an hour. The range runs from $67K at the entry level to $141K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.08), that's roughly $119,065 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,538/month, or 19.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $119K get you in Kennewick-Richland?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Kennewick-Richland’s Regional Price Parity (100.08). 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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What this looks like in Kennewick-Richland
Kennewick-Richland sits well above the national pay line for technical writers, local pay runs about 32% higher than the U.S. median of $90K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,538/month, 20% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100.08) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Kennewick-Richland offers a genuinely strong financial position for technical writerss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for technical writers in metros near Kennewick-Richland, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $108K | $97K |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $84K | $84K |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $85K | $82K |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $82K | $77K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kennewick-Richland, WA
Entry-level technical writers (10th percentile) start around $67K. Mid-career wages sit at $119K. Top earners bring in $141K or more, a $74K spread from bottom to top.
Technical Writers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Technical Writers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $122K | +35% | 1,550 |
| District of Columbia | $118K | +30% | 440 |
| Massachusetts | $109K | +21% | 1,850 |
| Washington | $104K | +15% | 1,620 |
| California | $104K | +15% | 5,280 |
| Rhode Island | $102K | +13% | 150 |
| Connecticut | $102K | +13% | 770 |
| Maryland | $101K | +12% | 1,780 |
| Colorado | $101K | +11% | 1,320 |
| New York | $98K | +9% | 1,610 |
| New Hampshire | $96K | +7% | 230 |
| New Mexico | $95K | +5% | 420 |
| Virginia | $94K | +4% | 2,280 |
| Delaware | $90K | -0% | 80 |
| Nevada | $89K | -2% | 230 |
| Illinois | $89K | -2% | 1,040 |
| Vermont | $88K | -3% | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $88K | -3% | 1,330 |
| North Carolina | $86K | -5% | 2,860 |
| Florida | $86K | -5% | 2,550 |
| Alabama | $86K | -5% | 630 |
| Michigan | $85K | -6% | 970 |
| Oregon | $84K | -7% | 590 |
| Minnesota | $83K | -8% | 910 |
| Alaska | $83K | -8% | 130 |
| Texas | $83K | -8% | 3,340 |
| South Carolina | $83K | -9% | 700 |
| Kentucky | $81K | -10% | 340 |
| Missouri | $81K | -11% | 500 |
| Utah | $80K | -11% | 570 |
| Wisconsin | $80K | -11% | 910 |
| Arizona | $80K | -12% | 730 |
| Tennessee | $80K | -12% | 480 |
| Ohio | $76K | -15% | 1,350 |
| Indiana | $76K | -16% | 540 |
| Montana | $75K | -17% | 160 |
| Kansas | $74K | -19% | 480 |
| Georgia | $73K | -19% | 1,680 |
| North Dakota | $73K | -19% | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $70K | -23% | 600 |
| Iowa | $67K | -26% | 640 |
| Mississippi | $65K | -28% | 70 |
| Louisiana | $64K | -29% | 320 |
| South Dakota | $63K | -30% | 70 |
| Arkansas | $61K | -32% | 150 |
Showing 1–10 of 45 states with published data
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 Kennewick-Richland numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a technical writer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kennewick-Richland?
Yes — at the median salary of $119K, rent takes 20% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,538/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for technical writers in Kennewick-Richland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new technical writers typically earn — is $67K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,022/month. At HUD’s $1,538/month FMR, rent would take 38% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is technical writer a high-paying job in Kennewick-Richland?
Local pay is 32% above the national median — $119K here vs. $90K nationally.
How does Kennewick-Richland compare to the national average for technical writers?
Kennewick-Richland pays $119K median vs. the U.S. average of $90K — that’s +32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.08), the purchasing-power equivalent is $119K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do technical writers make in Kennewick-Richland, WA?
The median is $119,160 a year, that works out to about $57 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $67,030, and experienced technical writers can clear $141,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $119K enough to live in Kennewick-Richland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,683/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,538/month, which eats 20% 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 Kennewick-Richland?
Kennewick-Richland has a Regional Price Parity of 100.08 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median technical writers salary is worth about $119,065 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.