Technical Writers pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,120 a year or less, while the top 10% make $108,590 or more. The middle half of technical writers in Columbia earn between $61,910 and $88,100.
- $56K10th
- $62K25th
- $78KMedian
- $88K75th
- $109K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $81,510 | $6,792 | $39.19 |
| Median | $77,640 | $6,470 | $37.33 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,910 | $5,159 | $29.76 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $88,100 | $7,342 | $42.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Technical Writers salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $81,510, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $63,083 a year, or $5,257 a month and $2,426 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for technical writers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $81,510 buys what about $87,026 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Technical Writers salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 2nd of 3 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($93,210).
- Charleston$93,210
- Columbia$81,510
- Greenville$74,040
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Technical Writers salary in Columbia: questions
How much do technical writers make an hour in Columbia?
$39.19 an hour on average, and $37.33 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level technical writers salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,120 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,910, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the technical writers take-home pay in Columbia?
About $63,083 a year ($5,257 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $81,510.
Do technical writers earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.74, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.74).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.