SOC 27-3042 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Technical Writers — Arizona
Arizona · 2 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Arizona is $79,780 a year, trailing the national median of $90,390 by 11.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Arizona is $79,780 a year, trailing the national median of $90,390 by 11.7%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $67,600 and $100,270. The lowest tenth earn under $60,100, while the highest tenth earn more than $119,930.
The area has 730 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.77 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Arizona ranks number 32nd out of 45 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Phoenix records the highest median at $83,480. Of the 712 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 175th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $60,100 | −33.5% |
| 25th | $67,600 | −25.2% |
| Median (50th) | $79,780 | −11.7% |
| 75th | $100,270 | +10.9% |
| 90th | $119,930 | +32.7% |
| Mean | $86,510 | −4.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Arizona
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Arizona sit close to the national average, so $79,780 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$79,780as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$79,225US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $79,780 a year, 11.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $60,100 to $119,930 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 730 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 32nd of 45 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Phoenix, at $83,480.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Technical Writers in Arizona?
The median annual wage is $79,780, or $38.36 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $90,390, so pay in Arizona is 11.7% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Arizona earns more than $119,930 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $60,100 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Phoenix, at $83,480 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 730 jobs in this occupation in Arizona. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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