Technical Writers Salary
In Lafayette, LA, technical writers earn $70,140 at the median, or about $33.72 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers.
So what does $70K get you in Lafayette?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lafayette’s Regional Price Parity (87.2). 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 Lafayette
Pay for technical writers in Lafayette runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $90K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $992/month, 21.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.2 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Lafayette can be a reasonable trade-off for technical writerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for technical writers in metros near Lafayette, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $75K | , |
| New Orleans-Metairie | $63K | , |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $61K | , |
| El Paso | $63K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lafayette, LA
Entry-level technical writers (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $70K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $36K 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
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 Lafayette numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a technical writer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lafayette?
Yes — at the median salary of $70K, rent takes 21.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $992/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for technical writers in Lafayette?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new technical writers typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,539/month. At HUD’s $992/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 Lafayette?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $70K here vs. $90K nationally. Cost of living is 13% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Lafayette compare to the national average for technical writers?
Lafayette pays $70K median vs. the U.S. average of $90K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.2), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — below the national median.
How much do technical writers make in Lafayette, LA?
The median is $70,140 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,320, and experienced technical writers can clear $78,750. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $70K enough to live in Lafayette?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,611/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $992/month, which eats 21.5% 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 Lafayette?
Lafayette has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median technical writers salary is worth about $80,436 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.