Technical Writers Salary in Madison, WI
In Madison, WI, technical writers earn $83,380 at the median — $40.09 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.29), that's roughly $85,703 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,168/month, or 22.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $83K get you in Madison?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Madison’s Regional Price Parity (97.29). 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, Madison, WI
Entry-level technical writers (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $125K or more, a $65K 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 Madison numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do technical writers make in Madison, WI?
The median is $83,380 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,340, and experienced technical writers can clear $124,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in Madison?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,306/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,168/month, which eats 22% 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 Madison?
Madison has a Regional Price Parity of 97.29 (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 $85,703 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.