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MODELED MONTHLY SURPLUS

Top 20 cities for Technical Writers

This ranking uses a modeled monthly surplus, not salary alone. It estimates take-home pay, housing, and local standard expenses so you can compare the same defined measure across cities.

Direct BLS match to SOC 27-3042 Technical Writers.

What the modeled surplus includes

Modeled 2026 monthly surplus = modeled monthly take-home pay - estimated mortgage - fixed standard expenses ($2,200/month in every metro). It is a comparison model, not your personal cash-after-rent result.

#1

Knoxville, TN

MSA Pop: 0.9M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$3,111
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$103,966
BEA 2024 RPP
92.6
Est. Mortgage
$1,520/mo
#2

Memphis, TN

MSA Pop: 1.3M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$2,886
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$92,978
BEA 2024 RPP
92.2
Est. Mortgage
$1,101/mo
#3

Hartford, CT

MSA Pop: 1.2M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$2,716
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$105,032
BEA 2024 RPP
102.7
Est. Mortgage
$1,573/mo
#4

Detroit, MI

MSA Pop: 4.3M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$2,591
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$94,700
BEA 2024 RPP
100.3
Est. Mortgage
$1,179/mo
#5

Baltimore, MD

MSA Pop: 2.8M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$2,448
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$104,693
BEA 2024 RPP
104.5
Est. Mortgage
$1,835/mo
#6

Philadelphia, PA

MSA Pop: 6.2M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$2,230
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$94,638
BEA 2024 RPP
102.6
Est. Mortgage
$1,625/mo
#7

Jacksonville, FL

MSA Pop: 1.5M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$2,180
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$91,676
BEA 2024 RPP
99.5
Est. Mortgage
$1,730/mo
#8

Houston, TX

MSA Pop: 7.1M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$2,160
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$89,544
BEA 2024 RPP
98.6
Est. Mortgage
$1,625/mo
#9

Birmingham, AL

MSA Pop: 1.1M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$2,128
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$84,942
BEA 2024 RPP
91.6
Est. Mortgage
$1,075/mo
#10

Sarasota, FL

MSA Pop: 0.8M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$2,027
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$97,119
BEA 2024 RPP
102.4
Est. Mortgage
$2,202/mo
#11

San Antonio, TX

MSA Pop: 2.6M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$2,027
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$84,583
BEA 2024 RPP
94.7
Est. Mortgage
$1,468/mo
#12

Tampa, FL

MSA Pop: 3.2M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$2,010
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$91,440
BEA 2024 RPP
100.9
Est. Mortgage
$1,887/mo
#13

Indianapolis, IN

MSA Pop: 2.1M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$1,955
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$85,044
BEA 2024 RPP
95.7
Est. Mortgage
$1,363/mo
#14

St. Louis, MO

MSA Pop: 2.8M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$1,938
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$82,861
BEA 2024 RPP
95.1
Est. Mortgage
$1,153/mo
#15

Wichita, KS

MSA Pop: 0.6M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$1,924
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$78,741
BEA 2024 RPP
88.9
Est. Mortgage
$944/mo
#16

Chicago, IL

MSA Pop: 9.5M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$1,920
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$92,209
BEA 2024 RPP
103.6
Est. Mortgage
$1,651/mo
#17

Rochester, NY

MSA Pop: 1.1M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$1,905
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$80,329
BEA 2024 RPP
97.0
Est. Mortgage
$1,022/mo
#18

Durham, NC

MSA Pop: 0.6M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$1,879
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$96,883
BEA 2024 RPP
97.6
Est. Mortgage
$1,992/mo
#19

Buffalo, NY

MSA Pop: 1.1M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$1,823
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$80,258
BEA 2024 RPP
95.8
Est. Mortgage
$1,101/mo
#20

Dallas, TX

MSA Pop: 7.6M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$1,822
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$88,683
BEA 2024 RPP
103.1
Est. Mortgage
$1,913/mo