Technical Writer (QA / Docs) salary in United States
A mid-level Technical Writer (QA / Docs) in United States earns a median of $90k a year gross. The p10 to p90 range is $74k to $110k. That is the same as the US median for the same role. United States ranks 1 of 36 countries on our pay index. Juniors start near $69k, leads reach $140k.
Technical Writer (QA / Docs) pay by level in United States
Gross annual pay in USD. Junior pay is $69k, lead pay is $140k: leads earn 109% more. The bar spans p10 to p90 with the median marked.
| Level | p10 | Median | p90 | Range | Median (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | $57k | $69k | $84k | $69k | |
| Mid-level | $74k | $90k | $110k | $90k | |
| Senior | $98k | $120k | $150k | $120k | |
| Lead | $120k | $140k | $180k | $140k |
Estimates from posted pay ranges, base pay only. p10 and p90 are 0.82× and 1.22× the median. Methodology.
Technical Writer (QA / Docs) pay by city in United States
San Francisco pays most at 1.22× the national median. Pay factor 1.00 equals the country median of $90k. Showing the top 8 of 62 cities.
| City | Tier | Pay factor | Mid-level median | p10–p90 | USD | QA jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | A | 1.22× (+22%) | $110k | $90k–$130k | $110k | 30 |
| San Jose | A | 1.20× (+20%) | $110k | $89k–$130k | $110k | 54 |
| New York | A | 1.15× (+15%) | $100k | $85k–$130k | $100k | 29 |
| Seattle | A | 1.15× (+15%) | $100k | $85k–$130k | $100k | 19 |
| Boston | A | 1.08× (+8%) | $97k | $80k–$120k | $97k | 23 |
| Washington DC | A | 1.06× (+6%) | $95k | $78k–$120k | $95k | 23 |
| Los Angeles | A | 1.05× (+5%) | $94k | $77k–$120k | $94k | 20 |
| San Diego | B | 1.03× (+3%) | $93k | $76k–$110k | $93k | 7 |
City factors are estimates (tier A = largest tech hubs). Remote roles are paid to the employer's pay band, which can differ from the city rate.
From gross to take-home in United States
A mid-level Technical Writer (QA / Docs) on $90k gross keeps roughly 72–78% after income tax and social contributions, about $65k to $70k a year.
In United States, pay is usually quoted as annual base salary for employees, hourly rates for 1099 and W2 contracts. Estimate only: a single earner with no dependants and typical deductions. Bonuses, benefits, pension choices and regional taxes change the result. It is not tax advice.
Live Technical Writer (QA / Docs) roles in United States
25 Technical Writer (QA / Docs) roles are open in United States, from a total of 1166 QA listings in the country.
Staff Technical Writer
Technical Writer II
Technical Writer Intern (Summer 2027)
347 listings in United States show a real posted pay range (12 for Technical Writer (QA / Docs)). Others carry a model estimate marked “est.”.
Who hires Technical Writer (QA / Docs)s in United States
Employer mix by share of listings (1166 listings in United States). Names are withheld; we show the type of company.
- AI companies27%
- Software companies17%
- Healthtech companies13%
- Fintech companies12%
- Cybersecurity companies9%
What this estimate rests on
The Technical Writer (QA / Docs) baseline uses 17 US posted pay ranges. For United States, the country index is calibrated on 485 non-US observations in North America, so the regional sample is usable but still modest. Evidence score 8 of 8.
Technical Writer (QA / Docs) salary and jobs by city in United States
Technical Writer (QA / Docs) salary in United States: FAQ
What is the average Technical Writer (QA / Docs) salary in United States?
The median gross salary for a mid-level Technical Writer (QA / Docs) in United States is $90k a year ($90k). The p10 is $74k and the p90 is $110k. This is an estimate based on posted pay ranges.
How much does a senior Technical Writer (QA / Docs) earn in United States?
A senior Technical Writer (QA / Docs) in United States earns a median of $120k, with a range of $98k to $150k. Leads earn $140k, 109% more than juniors at $69k.
Which city in United States pays Technical Writer (QA / Docs)s the most?
San Francisco has the highest pay factor at 1.22x the country median, which puts a mid-level Technical Writer (QA / Docs) at about $110k. Omaha sits at 0.87x, around $78k.
How does United States compare with the US for Technical Writer (QA / Docs) pay?
A mid-level Technical Writer (QA / Docs) in the US earns a median of $90k. In United States the equivalent is $90k, which is the same as the US figure. United States ranks 1 of 36 countries; the North America median for this role is $83k.
What is the take-home pay for a Technical Writer (QA / Docs) in United States?
Roughly 72–78% of gross stays after income tax and social contributions for a single mid-level earner, which is about $65k to $70k a year on a $90k gross salary. This is a generic estimate, not tax advice: benefits, family status and regional taxes change the result.
How many Technical Writer (QA / Docs) jobs are open in United States?
PassRidge lists 25 live Technical Writer (QA / Docs) roles in United States, and 1166 QA listings across all roles in United States. 12 of the Technical Writer (QA / Docs) listings and 347 of all listings in the country show a real posted pay range; the rest carry a model estimate.
Other roles in United States
| Role | Mid-level median | USD |
|---|---|---|
| Manual QA Tester | $82k | $82k |
| QA Automation Engineer | $120k | $120k |
| SDET | $130k | $130k |
| QA Lead / Manager | $110k | $110k |
| Mobile QA Engineer | $110k | $110k |
| Performance Test Engineer | $150k | $150k |
| Security / Penetration Tester | $180k | $180k |
| Game QA Tester | $66k | $66k |
| Accessibility Tester | $98k | $98k |
| Business / Test Analyst | $89k | $89k |
| Data / ETL QA Engineer | $100k | $100k |
| Localization QA Tester | $48k | $48k |
| AI / LLM Evaluation QA | $100k | $100k |
| Release / DevOps Engineer | $140k | $140k |
World view: Technical Writer (QA / Docs) salary by country · Technical Writer (QA / Docs) role guide · Hire a Technical Writer (QA / Docs) · Salary finder.