Specifications Writers

Median Salary: $62,700

Many specifications writers across the nation share a few key professional traits. For example, persistence, dependability, and stress tolerance can be crucial for success in the industry, especially when mixed with career training. Around 46,270 folks were employed as specifications writers nationwide in 2009. With that much workplace competition, it's vital to cultivate these characteristics and receive excellent training, particularly if you're preparing to progress in the field.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual income for specifications writers in the U.S. was $62,700 in 2009, which works out to a median hourly wage of $30.20. Of course, income can vary with training and by place. Below, you'll find more data about specifications writers, including wages and job density for areas all over the nation.

Specifications writers should be skilled in:

  • Oral Comprehension
  • Information Ordering
  • Problem Sensitivity
  • Speech Clarity
  • Originality

Different folks go into different careers; specifications writers are typically:

  • Artistic
  • Investigative
  • Conventional

Working as a specifications writer requires knowledge in subjects like:

  • English Language
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Communications and Media
  • Education and Training

Related Occupations

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Below, you'll see links to more information on the top cities for this occupation (based on the number of folks employed as specifications writers). Note: "Job density" refers to the proportion of specifications writers in each city as compared to the national average.

Alabama
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Birmingham 90 $50,700 $24.40 $60,700 $29.20 -48.6%
Huntsville 380 $54,600 $26.30 $64,400 $31.00 421.8%
Montgomery 60 $47,700 $22.90 $54,600 $26.20 7.3%
Alaska
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Anchorage 40 $64,000 $30.80 $77,200 $37.10 -37.9%
Arizona
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Phoenix 440 $65,700 $31.60 $76,300 $36.70 -29.1%
Tucson 140 $57,300 $27.60 $70,100 $33.70 5.4%
Arkansas
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Fayetteville 50 $39,100 $18.80 $49,000 $23.60 -33.9%
Little Rock 70 $53,100 $25.50 $62,600 $30.10 -41.2%
California
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Bakersfield 70 $60,100 $28.90 $70,900 $34.10 -22.6%
Fresno 30 $59,100 $28.40 $68,500 $32.90 -70.6%
Los Angeles (Area) 2,100 $68,200 $32.80 $88,600 $42.60 10.5%
Oakland 430 $77,800 $37.40 $95,600 $46.00 21.8%
Oxnard 300 $80,100 $38.50 $96,000 $46.10 189%
Riverside 180 $68,300 $32.80 $82,800 $39.80 -57.1%
Sacramento 270 $66,000 $31.80 $81,600 $39.20 -11.6%
San Diego 780 $71,400 $34.30 $85,900 $41.30 71.2%
San Francisco (Area) 1,130 $75,100 $36.10 $96,400 $46.40 61%
San Francisco (City) 700 $72,500 $34.90 $97,200 $46.70 100.6%
San Jose 1,510 $97,600 $46.90 $112,100 $53.90 378.8%
Santa Barbara 60 $64,300 $30.90 $82,500 $39.70 -5.9%
Santa Rosa 80 $68,500 $32.90 $97,000 $46.60 27.7%
Vallejo NA $62,900 $30.20 $72,400 $34.80 NA
Colorado
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Boulder 130 $71,000 $34.20 $87,900 $42.30 131.1%
Colorado Springs 200 $64,000 $30.80 $73,100 $35.20 131.6%
Denver 640 $65,400 $31.40 $80,700 $38.80 47.5%
Fort Collins 60 $68,500 $33.00 $89,300 $43.00 21.8%
Connecticut
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Bridgeport NA $58,600 $28.20 $71,100 $34.20 NA
Hartford 260 $56,700 $27.30 $73,300 $35.20 32.5%
New Haven 60 $59,900 $28.80 $81,500 $39.20 -36.2%
Norwich 150 $48,500 $23.30 $63,600 $30.60 218.4%
District of Columbia
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Washington (Area) 3,350 $71,600 $34.40 $87,100 $41.90 238.4%
Florida
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Bradenton 30 $61,600 $29.60 $75,900 $36.50 -64.7%
Fort Walton Beach 130 $52,200 $25.10 $59,000 $28.40 385.3%
Jacksonville 90 $52,500 $25.20 $63,000 $30.30 -55.1%
Miami (Area) 400 $55,300 $26.60 $71,300 $34.30 -46.9%
Orlando 400 $53,100 $25.50 $64,600 $31.10 14.1%
Palm Bay 100 $60,200 $28.90 $72,300 $34.70 44.1%
Pensacola 30 $45,000 $21.60 $54,200 $26.10 -37.3%
Tampa 210 $54,400 $26.20 $64,800 $31.10 -48%
Georgia
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Atlanta 870 $67,400 $32.40 $78,300 $37.60 7.6%
Augusta NA $68,300 $32.80 $74,600 $35.90 NA
Columbus NA $49,000 $23.60 $58,500 $28.10 NA
Warner Robins 130 $46,100 $22.20 $54,200 $26.10 546.6%
Hawaii
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Honolulu NA $34,000 $16.30 $38,600 $18.60 NA
Idaho
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Boise City 130 $51,100 $24.60 $58,000 $27.90 35.3%
Illinois
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Champaign 30 $48,600 $23.40 $60,100 $28.90 -11.3%
Chicago (Area) 1,020 $57,000 $27.40 $74,000 $35.60 18.6%
Peoria 30 $62,100 $29.80 $73,800 $35.50 -50%
Indiana
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Fort Wayne 30 $58,600 $28.20 $77,400 $37.20 -55.1%
Indianapolis 400 $54,800 $26.30 $66,200 $31.80 28.8%
Iowa
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Cedar Rapids 100 $56,900 $27.40 $67,600 $32.50 107.1%
Davenport 80 $53,200 $25.60 $67,600 $32.50 29.1%
Des Moines 150 $44,700 $21.50 $52,700 $25.30 33.3%
Iowa City 40 $42,700 $20.50 $54,300 $26.10 38.7%
Kansas
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Wichita 400 $49,900 $24.00 $58,700 $28.20 280.5%
Kentucky
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Lexington 70 $56,700 $27.20 $66,800 $32.10 -19.2%
Louisville NA $54,600 $26.30 $64,300 $30.90 NA
Louisiana
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
New Orleans 90 $51,200 $24.60 $59,400 $28.50 -52.3%
Maryland
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Baltimore 820 $64,900 $31.20 $79,000 $38.00 84.5%
Massachusetts
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Boston (Area) 2,260 $81,500 $39.20 $96,700 $46.50 253.1%
Pittsfield NA $38,700 $18.60 $45,900 $22.10 NA
Worcester 70 $68,800 $33.10 $80,500 $38.70 -19.8%
Michigan
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Ann Arbor 170 $55,400 $26.70 $66,100 $31.80 153.1%
Detroit (Area) 790 $60,700 $29.20 $73,200 $35.20 23.2%
Grand Rapids 300 $51,400 $24.70 $67,500 $32.40 130.8%
Kalamazoo 50 $51,900 $25.00 $62,700 $30.10 9.6%
Lansing 100 $48,600 $23.40 $57,300 $27.60 41.8%
Niles 60 $55,900 $26.90 $75,000 $36.00 174.6%
Minnesota
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Duluth 30 $64,700 $31.10 $76,800 $36.90 -28.5%
Minneapolis 920 $66,000 $31.70 $78,900 $37.90 51.1%
Mississippi
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Gulfport 60 $48,800 $23.50 $55,400 $26.60 69.5%
Missouri
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Kansas City 420 $50,200 $24.20 $62,100 $29.90 21.2%
Springfield 70 $39,800 $19.20 $48,400 $23.30 -1.1%
St. Louis 510 $58,400 $28.10 $72,000 $34.60 11.9%
Nebraska
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Lincoln 100 $39,500 $19.00 $49,200 $23.70 79.7%
Omaha 150 $53,000 $25.50 $64,400 $31.00 -5.4%
Nevada
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Las Vegas 180 $49,800 $23.90 $63,000 $30.30 -40.1%
Reno 50 $64,100 $30.80 $81,100 $39.00 -35.3%
New Hampshire
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Manchester 30 $77,300 $37.20 $89,100 $42.90 -0.8%
New Jersey
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Atlantic City 50 $61,200 $29.40 $71,300 $34.30 -1.4%
Trenton 140 $77,200 $37.10 $95,300 $45.80 81.4%
New Mexico
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Albuquerque 270 $68,300 $32.80 $89,100 $42.90 99.7%
New York
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Albany 140 $58,800 $28.30 $73,900 $35.50 -7.6%
Binghamton 40 $62,100 $29.90 $70,200 $33.70 -3.7%
Buffalo 80 $40,000 $19.20 $57,400 $27.60 -58.2%
New York (Area) 2,370 $67,300 $32.40 $86,100 $41.40 -8.5%
Rochester 150 $63,300 $30.40 $72,200 $34.70 -15.3%
Syracuse 50 $56,500 $27.10 $66,200 $31.80 -57.3%
North Carolina
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Charlotte 210 $58,400 $28.10 $69,400 $33.40 -30.5%
Durham 200 $63,700 $30.60 $79,000 $38.00 104.8%
Greensboro 40 $57,900 $27.90 $66,900 $32.10 -68.4%
Raleigh 410 $69,700 $33.50 $82,600 $39.70 132.2%
Ohio
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Akron 90 $46,000 $22.10 $59,900 $28.80 -24%
Canton NA $57,400 $27.60 $67,000 $32.20 NA
Cincinnati 250 $50,000 $24.10 $61,000 $29.40 -28.2%
Cleveland 250 $55,100 $26.50 $67,300 $32.30 -30.8%
Columbus 300 $67,200 $32.30 $81,700 $39.30 -6.8%
Dayton 330 $41,700 $20.00 $55,200 $26.60 153.4%
Toledo 40 $55,200 $26.50 $64,400 $31.00 -63.6%
Oklahoma
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Oklahoma City 150 $44,700 $21.50 $65,800 $31.60 -25.7%
Tulsa 120 $38,400 $18.50 $49,500 $23.80 -18.9%
Oregon
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Eugene 60 $40,400 $19.40 $62,700 $30.20 20.1%
Portland 470 $69,500 $33.40 $81,400 $39.10 32.5%
Pennsylvania
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Allentown 70 $61,200 $29.40 $73,700 $35.40 -44.4%
Harrisburg 100 $60,200 $28.90 $65,900 $31.70 -10.7%
Philadelphia (Area) 910 $64,800 $31.10 $78,700 $37.80 -16.4%
Pittsburgh 410 $55,900 $26.90 $65,400 $31.40 4.5%
Rhode Island
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Providence 130 $62,800 $30.20 $72,300 $34.80 -31.4%
South Carolina
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Charleston 120 $55,100 $26.50 $62,700 $30.10 18.9%
Columbia 80 $57,100 $27.40 $71,900 $34.60 -32.8%
Greenville 100 $37,000 $17.80 $49,700 $23.90 -4.2%
Spartanburg 30 $52,000 $25.00 $59,200 $28.50 -24.6%
South Dakota
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Sioux Falls 40 $43,700 $21.00 $50,400 $24.20 -7.3%
Tennessee
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Chattanooga 40 $42,200 $20.30 $52,100 $25.00 -55.1%
Knoxville 90 $63,400 $30.50 $76,000 $36.50 -19.2%
Memphis 110 $54,900 $26.40 $65,000 $31.30 -49.2%
Nashville 120 $56,400 $27.10 $74,200 $35.70 -53.7%
Texas
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Austin 570 $55,000 $26.50 $67,800 $32.60 108.8%
Dallas (Area) 1,100 $62,800 $30.20 $75,300 $36.20 1.4%
El Paso 60 $60,200 $28.90 $70,800 $34.00 -41.8%
Houston 840 $58,700 $28.20 $69,700 $33.50 -7.6%
San Antonio 460 $52,000 $25.00 $64,400 $31.00 56.2%
Waco NA $70,200 $33.70 $78,000 $37.50 NA
Utah
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Ogden 130 $52,100 $25.10 $62,100 $29.80 87%
Provo 130 $46,600 $22.40 $54,400 $26.20 112.4%
Salt Lake City 380 $54,100 $26.00 $65,300 $31.40 74%
Vermont
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Burlington 60 $51,000 $24.50 $65,700 $31.60 47.7%
Virginia
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Charlottesville 40 $49,900 $24.00 $67,600 $32.50 16.7%
Harrisonburg 50 $42,900 $20.70 $52,200 $25.10 118.1%
Richmond 160 $62,100 $29.90 $79,100 $38.00 -23.7%
Virginia Beach 440 $60,600 $29.20 $77,700 $37.40 69.5%
Washington
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Kennewick 90 $68,700 $33.00 $81,800 $39.30 176.6%
Olympia 60 $62,700 $30.10 $71,900 $34.60 84.5%
Seattle (Area) 1,400 $69,500 $33.40 $87,600 $42.10 55.6%
Spokane 40 $36,900 $17.70 $52,400 $25.20 -48.3%
Wisconsin
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Appleton 40 $50,600 $24.30 $60,300 $29.00 -7.1%
Madison 140 $54,400 $26.10 $67,200 $32.30 16.4%
Milwaukee 280 $55,200 $26.50 $62,700 $30.20 -1.7%
Racine 30 $67,600 $32.50 $78,500 $37.70 14.7%