Technical Writer salary in Chicago, IL

Based on 12 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Rensselaer, Volo, Schaumburt, Schaumburg, Northfield.

Also listed as: Technical Writer Technical

Median salary$91,520
Middle 50%$73.6k–$99.4k
vs. national median−8%comparison median $100,000
Filings12FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $60,000 and $125,844.
PercentileSalary
10th$61,251
25th$73,627
50th (median)$91,520
75th$99,449
90th$123,405

Cost of living

Chicago's median Technical Writer salary of $91,520 is worth about $88,300 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).

Compared with all workers here

All Technical Writers in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $89,960 in May 2025 (790 employed). The H-1B median here is $91,520, 2% higher.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.

Top employers filing

EmployerMedianFilings
AbbVietoo few2
Gsg Consultantstoo few2
Intellectttoo few2
Opportunity Financialtoo few2

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I – 0
Mid-level · Level II – 0
Senior · Level III too few 4
Expert · Level IV – 0

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.