Technical Writers pay range in Detroit
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,050 a year or less, while the top 10% make $127,070 or more. The middle half of technical writers in Detroit earn between $69,370 and $110,780.
- $62K10th
- $69K25th
- $92KMedian
- $111K75th
- $127K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $93,130 | $7,761 | $44.77 |
| Median | $92,390 | $7,699 | $44.42 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $69,370 | $5,781 | $33.35 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $110,780 | $9,232 | $53.26 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Technical Writers salary after taxes in Detroit
On the average salary of $93,130, a single filer in Detroit takes home about $68,540 a year, or $5,712 a month and $2,636 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). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Is Detroit a good place for technical writers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Detroit area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.3), so the average $93,130 buys what about $92,853 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Detroit ($52,080). A typical home costs $269,080, or 2.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Technical Writers salary in other Michigan cities
Detroit ranks 2nd of 4 Michigan metro areas for this job; Ann Arbor pays the most ($97,120).
- Ann Arbor$97,120
- Detroit$93,130
- Grand Rapids$85,070
- Lansing$82,690
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 Detroit: questions
How much do technical writers make an hour in Detroit?
$44.77 an hour on average, and $44.42 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level technical writers salary in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,050 a year and the 25th percentile is $69,370, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the technical writers take-home pay in Detroit?
About $68,540 a year ($5,712 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $93,130. Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Do technical writers earn more in Detroit than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($99,139).
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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (19820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.01, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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