Technical Writers Salary
In Peoria, IL, technical writers earn $87,090 at the median, or about $41.87 an hour. The range runs from $69K at the entry level to $101K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.23), which stretches that salary to about $95,462 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,039/month, or 18.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $87K get you in Peoria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Peoria’s Regional Price Parity (91.23). 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 Peoria
Technical writers pay in Peoria tracks closely to the national median, $87K locally vs. $90K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,039/month, 19.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for technical writers in metros near Peoria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $90K | $87K |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $89K | $96K |
| Kansas City | $77K | $83K |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $82K | $85K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Peoria, IL
Entry-level technical writers (10th percentile) start around $69K. Mid-career wages sit at $87K. Top earners bring in $101K 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
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 Peoria numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a technical writer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Peoria?
Yes — at the median salary of $87K, rent takes 19.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,039/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for technical writers in Peoria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new technical writers typically earn — is $69K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,112/month. At HUD’s $1,039/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is technical writer a high-paying job in Peoria?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $87K locally vs. $90K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Peoria compare to the national average for technical writers?
Peoria pays $87K median vs. the U.S. average of $90K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $95K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do technical writers make in Peoria, IL?
The median is $87,090 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $68,540, and experienced technical writers can clear $100,720. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $87K enough to live in Peoria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,445/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,039/month, which eats 19.1% 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 Peoria?
Peoria has a Regional Price Parity of 91.23 (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 $95,462 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.