Technical Writers pay range in Sacramento
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,400 a year or less, while the top 10% make $157,430 or more. The middle half of technical writers in Sacramento earn between $84,400 and $116,060.
- $59K10th
- $84K25th
- $94KMedian
- $116K75th
- $157K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $103,570 | $8,631 | $49.79 |
| Median | $94,400 | $7,867 | $45.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $84,400 | $7,033 | $40.58 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $116,060 | $9,672 | $55.80 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Technical Writers pay in Sacramento vs. California and the U.S.
Technical writers in Sacramento earn 12% less than the California average ($117,060) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($96,970). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $90,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento | $103,570 | $94,400 | $59,400 | $157,430 | 190 |
| California | $117,060 | $104,000 | $69,630 | $175,510 | 5,280 |
| United States | $96,970 | $90,390 | $57,440 | $145,270 | 45,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Technical Writers salary after taxes in Sacramento
On the average salary of $103,570, a single filer in Sacramento takes home about $76,152 a year, or $6,346 a month and $2,929 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Sacramento a good place for technical writers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Sacramento area are 7% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 106.7), so the average $103,570 buys what about $97,094 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Sacramento ($59,750). A typical home costs $582,707, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Technical Writers salary in other California cities
Sacramento ranks 6th of 11 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($139,970).
- San Jose$139,970
- San Francisco$137,560
- Santa Rosa$127,330
- Santa Maria$111,700
- San Diego$109,020
- Sacramento$103,570
- Los Angeles$103,080
- Oxnard$102,480
- Riverside$90,160
- Bakersfield$86,730
Highest-paying cities for technical writers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($139,970).
- San Jose, CA$139,970
- San Francisco, CA$137,560
- Santa Rosa, CA$127,330
- Boulder, CO$115,710
- Boston, MA$115,210
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Technical Writers salary in Sacramento: questions
How much do technical writers make an hour in Sacramento?
$49.79 an hour on average, and $45.38 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level technical writers salary in Sacramento?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,400 a year and the 25th percentile is $84,400, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the technical writers take-home pay in Sacramento?
About $76,152 a year ($6,346 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $103,570. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do technical writers earn more in Sacramento than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more than the U.S. average for this job ($96,970).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-3042; area Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA (40900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.60, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.60).
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