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Technical Illustrator Salary in 2026

Create technical drawings and illustrations for manuals, publications, and presentations.

Median Salary

$62,000

$5,167/mo

Entry Level

$42,000

starting pay

Senior Level

$85,000

experienced

Job Growth

+3%

10-yr outlook

Technical Illustrator Overview

Create technical drawings and illustrations for manuals, publications, and presentations.

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Experience

2-4 years

Industry

Creative

Total Jobs (US)

20K

5-Year Growth

+5%

Category

Creative

Hourly Rate

$29.81/hr

Monthly Pay

$5,167

Technical Illustrator Salary Calculator

Adjust your state and experience level to see the estimated Technical Illustrator salary in your area.

Mid Career (5-9 yrs)

Estimated Technical Illustrator Salary

$70,000

$5,833/month · $2,692/biweekly · $33.65/hr

Technical Illustrator Salary Range

Salary distribution from entry-level to top earners in the Technical Illustrator field.

25th Percentile$50,000
$50K
Median (50th)$62,000
$62K
75th Percentile$73,500
$74K
90th Percentile$93,500
$94K
Top Earners$102,000
$102K

Entry-level Technical Illustrators earn around $42,000, while the top 10% earn $93,500 or more.

Top Paying States for Technical Illustrators

StateEst. Median Salaryvs National
California$73,000+$11,000
Washington$69,000+$7,000
Massachusetts$69,000+$7,000
Virginia$66,000+$4,000
Texas$61,000$-1,000

Top Paying Cities for Technical Illustrators

CityEst. Median Salaryvs National
San Francisco$78,000+$16,000
Seattle$71,000+$9,000
Washington DC$71,000+$9,000
Boston$69,000+$7,000
Austin$64,000+$2,000

Required Skills & Certifications

Key Skills

Adobe IllustratorCAD3D RenderingTechnical DrawingAttention to Detail

Certifications

None typically required

Technical Illustrator Career Progression

Typical salary growth path for a Technical Illustrator from entry level to expert.

Entry Level

$42,000

0-2 years

Mid Career

$64,000

3-7 years

Senior

$85,000

8-14 years

Lead / Expert

$102,000

15+ years

EntryExpert

Technical Illustrator Salary FAQ

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