Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2011

27-3042 Technical Writers

Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.


National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
45,120 1.7 % $32.35 $67,280 0.7 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $18.27 $23.52 $31.06 $39.68 $49.16
Annual Wage (2) $37,990 $48,920 $64,610 $82,530 $102,250


Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 7,730 0.52 $33.75 $70,190
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 3,760 0.36 $32.26 $67,110
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 3,580 0.28 $31.71 $65,950
Software Publishers 2,510 0.95 $37.34 $77,670
Scientific Research and Development Services 2,230 0.35 $32.63 $67,880

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers 670 1.41 $32.43 $67,460
Software Publishers 2,510 0.95 $37.34 $77,670
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 7,730 0.52 $33.75 $70,190
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 770 0.48 $39.87 $82,920
Communications Equipment Manufacturing 530 0.47 $35.69 $74,230

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) 40 0.02 $41.71 $86,760
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 770 0.48 $39.87 $82,920
Electrical and Electronic Goods Merchant Wholesalers 130 0.04 $38.43 $79,940
Software Publishers 2,510 0.95 $37.34 $77,670
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 1,130 0.05 $36.34 $75,580


Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 5,910 0.42 1.20 $40.57 $84,380
Texas 3,420 0.33 0.94 $28.90 $60,110
Virginia 2,880 0.81 2.30 $36.69 $76,310
Maryland 2,000 0.81 2.29 $33.66 $70,000
New York 2,000 0.24 0.67 $32.11 $66,780




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 890 1.38 3.92 $30.89 $64,260
Virginia 2,880 0.81 2.30 $36.69 $76,310
Maryland 2,000 0.81 2.29 $33.66 $70,000
Massachusetts 1,960 0.62 1.77 $39.45 $82,060
Colorado 1,320 0.61 1.72 $31.54 $65,600




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 5,910 0.42 1.20 $40.57 $84,380
Massachusetts 1,960 0.62 1.77 $39.45 $82,060
Washington 1,610 0.59 1.68 $38.20 $79,450
Virginia 2,880 0.81 2.30 $36.69 $76,310
Connecticut 910 0.56 1.60 $34.45 $71,670





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 3,210 1.39 3.95 $36.98 $76,920
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 1,400 0.28 0.79 $34.00 $70,730
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 1,340 1.53 4.35 $48.72 $101,330
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 1,220 0.73 2.07 $39.95 $83,090
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division 1,200 0.88 2.50 $40.49 $84,220
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 1,110 0.29 0.83 $42.49 $88,380
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 890 0.35 0.99 $27.82 $57,870
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 870 0.39 1.10 $33.29 $69,250
Baltimore-Towson, MD 860 0.69 1.96 $33.52 $69,730
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 820 0.40 1.15 $31.56 $65,640




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Framingham, MA NECTA Division 330 2.11 5.99 $39.49 $82,130
Norwich-New London, CT-RI 250 1.96 5.58 $31.52 $65,570
Huntsville, AL 370 1.83 5.21 $28.55 $59,380
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 1,340 1.53 4.35 $48.72 $101,330
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 3,210 1.39 3.95 $36.98 $76,920
Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford, MA-NH NECTA Division 150 1.32 3.76 $40.51 $84,270
Dubuque, IA 70 1.29 3.65 $22.76 $47,340
Warner Robins, GA 70 1.27 3.61 $26.52 $55,170
Charlottesville, VA 120 1.27 3.62 $28.51 $59,300
Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick, MD Metropolitan Division 700 1.26 3.59 $34.73 $72,240




Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 1,340 1.53 4.35 $48.72 $101,330
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 1,110 0.29 0.83 $42.49 $88,380
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA 40 0.39 1.09 $41.56 $86,440
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC 230 0.87 2.48 $40.82 $84,910
Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford, MA-NH NECTA Division 150 1.32 3.76 $40.51 $84,270
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division 1,200 0.88 2.50 $40.49 $84,220
Billings, MT 50 0.56 1.61 $39.96 $83,120
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 1,220 0.73 2.07 $39.95 $83,090
Framingham, MA NECTA Division 330 2.11 5.99 $39.49 $82,130
San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division 740 0.77 2.20 $39.37 $81,880

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
St. Mary's County, Maryland nonmetropolitan area 120 2.77 7.87 $29.64 $61,650
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 60 0.16 0.47 $21.41 $44,540
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area 60 0.26 0.74 $21.43 $44,580
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 50 0.22 0.62 $23.03 $47,910
Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area 50 0.37 1.06 $24.88 $51,750

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Los Alamos County, New Mexico nonmetropolitan area 50 2.83 8.05 $41.72 $86,770
St. Mary's County, Maryland nonmetropolitan area 120 2.77 7.87 $29.64 $61,650
East Idaho nonmetropolitan area 30 0.70 1.98 $29.95 $62,290
Northeastern Virginia nonmetropolitan area 30 0.66 1.86 $38.22 $79,490
Southcentral Idaho nonmetropolitan area 30 0.47 1.35 $27.02 $56,190

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Los Alamos County, New Mexico nonmetropolitan area 50 2.83 8.05 $41.72 $86,770
Northeastern Virginia nonmetropolitan area 30 0.66 1.86 $38.22 $79,490
East Idaho nonmetropolitan area 30 0.70 1.98 $29.95 $62,290
St. Mary's County, Maryland nonmetropolitan area 120 2.77 7.87 $29.64 $61,650
Southcentral Idaho nonmetropolitan area 30 0.47 1.35 $27.02 $56,190


About May 2011 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OES estimates and related information:

May 2011 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2011 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2011 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2011 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

List of Occupations in SOC Code Number Order

List of Occupations in Alphabetical Order

Download May 2011 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates in Zipped XLS files

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 27, 2012