Technical Writers Salary
In Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA, technical writers earn $84,300 at the median, or about $40.53 an hour. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $124K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.35), that's roughly $84,006 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,131/month, or 20% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $84K get you in Spokane-Spokane Valley?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Spokane-Spokane Valley’s Regional Price Parity (100.35). 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 Spokane-Spokane Valley
Technical writers pay in Spokane-Spokane Valley tracks closely to the national median, $84K locally vs. $90K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,131/month, 20% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100.35) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for technical writers in metros near Spokane-Spokane Valley, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $108K | $97K |
| Kennewick-Richland | $119K | $119K |
| 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, Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA
Entry-level technical writers (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $84K. Top earners bring in $124K or more, a $72K 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 Spokane-Spokane Valley numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a technical writer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Spokane-Spokane Valley?
Yes — at the median salary of $84K, rent takes 20% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,131/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for technical writers in Spokane-Spokane Valley?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new technical writers typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,148/month. At HUD’s $1,131/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Spokane-Spokane Valley?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $84K locally vs. $90K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Spokane-Spokane Valley compare to the national average for technical writers?
Spokane-Spokane Valley pays $84K median vs. the U.S. average of $90K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.35), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — below the national median.
How much do technical writers make in Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA?
The median is $84,300 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,470, and experienced technical writers can clear $124,130. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $84K enough to live in Spokane-Spokane Valley?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,641/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,131/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 Spokane-Spokane Valley?
Spokane-Spokane Valley has a Regional Price Parity of 100.35 (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 $84,006 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.