Creative & Education San Francisco, CA Pop. 873,965

Technical Writer Salary in San Francisco, California

The median technical writer salary in San Francisco, CA is $145,527 per year, which is 82.0% above the national median and 31.9% above the California state average.

City Median
$145,527
vs State Avg
+$35,182
vs National
+$65,567
Cost of Living
182%

Technical Writer Salary in San Francisco by Experience

In San Francisco, an entry-level technical writer earns around $94,640, while experienced professionals earn up to $214,760 per year. The local cost of living index is 182% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$94,640
+$42,640 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$145,600
+$65,600 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$214,760
+$96,760 vs national

Salary Percentiles in San Francisco, CA

Percentile San Francisco
10th Percentile $90,636
25th Percentile $114,660
Median (50th) $145,527
75th Percentile $187,096
90th Percentile $234,052

Technical Writer Salary in Other California Cities

San Jose, CA
$134,333
Pop. 1,013,240
Los Angeles, CA
$116,742
Pop. 3,898,747
San Diego, CA
$113,543
Pop. 1,386,932
Sacramento, CA
$94,353
Pop. 524,943

How to Become a Technical Writer in San Francisco

Education

Most technical writer positions require a bachelor's degree. San Francisco and the surrounding California area have institutions offering relevant programs.

Key Skills

Technical WritingDocumentation ToolsInformation ArchitectureEditingAPI DocumentationMarkdown

Job Outlook

Nationally, technical writer employment is projected to grow 7% over the next decade (faster than average). Demand in San Francisco may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Technical Writer Jobs in San Francisco

Browse open technical writer positions in San Francisco, CA:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Technical Writer Salary in San Francisco

How much does a Technical Writer make in San Francisco, CA? ▼
The median technical writer salary in San Francisco, California is $145,527 per year, which is 82.0% above the national median of $79,960. Salaries range from $90,636 (10th percentile) to $234,052 (90th percentile).
How much does a Technical Writer make per hour in San Francisco? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $145,527, a technical writer in San Francisco earns approximately $70 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does San Francisco compare to the California state average for technical writer pay? ▼
San Francisco's median technical writer salary of $145,527 is 31.9% above the California state average of $110,345. The local cost of living index is 182% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in San Francisco, CA? ▼
San Francisco has a cost of living index of 182% compared to the national average. This means a technical writer salary of $145,527 in San Francisco has less purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a technical writer in San Francisco? ▼
Most technical writer positions in San Francisco require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include Technical Writing, Documentation Tools, Information Architecture, Editing. The job market is projected to grow 7% nationally over the next decade.