Technical Writers · Illinois

Technical Writers Salary in Illinois

Technical Writers in Illinois earn a median annual wage of $88,700 —1.9% below the national median of $90,390. That ranks IL #16 of 45 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$88,700
Median hourly
$42.65
Entry level (P10)
$58,800
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$130,890
90th percentile
Employment
1,040
0.2 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-1.9%
U.S. $90,390

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$58,800
$73,140
$88,700
$106,650
$58,800$88,700$130,890
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $88,700.

Employment is only 0.58× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in Illinois.

Highest-paying states for technical writers

All 45 states ranked by median annual wage. Illinois is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1New Jersey$122,320$58.811,5501.24
2District of Columbia$117,810$56.644402.15
3Massachusetts$109,200$52.501,8501.74
4Washington$104,070$50.031,6201.56
5California$104,000$50.005,2800.99
6Rhode Island$102,360$49.211501.04
7Connecticut$101,870$48.987701.54
8Maryland$100,990$48.551,7802.20
9Colorado$100,610$48.371,3201.57
10New York$98,310$47.261,6100.57

Related occupations in Illinois

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Illinois.

OccupationIllinois medianU.S. median
Public Relations Specialists$76,380$74,750
Coaches and Scouts$49,120$47,320
Graphic Designers$62,560$62,960
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$40,270$39,390
Producers and Directors$81,080$90,360
Editors$76,060$77,920

Frequently asked questions

How much do technical writers make in Illinois?

The median annual wage for technical writers in Illinois is $88,700, or $42.65 per hour. That is 1.9% below the national median of $90,390.

What is the entry-level technical writers salary in Illinois?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $58,800 per year ($28.27/hour). The 25th percentile is $73,140.

How many people work as technical writers in Illinois?

About 1,040 people work in this occupation in Illinois, or 0.2 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Illinois a good state for technical writers?

Illinois ranks #16 of 45 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.58x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in Illinois.

Which state pays technical writers the most?

New Jersey has the highest median wage at $122,320 per year, followed by District of Columbia ($117,810) and Massachusetts ($109,200).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes