Technical writers held about 55,700 jobs in 2018. The largest employers of technical writers were as follows:
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 36% |
| Manufacturing | 15 |
| Administrative and support services | 9 |
| Publishing industries (except Internet) | 8 |
Most technical writers work full time. They routinely work with engineers and other technology experts to manage the flow of information throughout an organization.
Although most technical writers are employed directly by the companies that use their services, some freelance and are paid per assignment. Freelancers are either self-employed or work for a technical consulting firm and are given short-term or recurring assignments, such as writing about a new product.
Technical writing jobs are usually concentrated in locations with a multitude of information technology or scientific and technical research companies, such as ones in California and Texas.
Work Schedules
Technical writers may be expected to work evenings and weekends to meet deadlines.
A college degree is usually required for a position as a technical writer. In addition, knowledge of or experience with a technical subject, such as science or engineering, is beneficial.
Education
Employers generally prefer candidates who have a bachelor’s degree in English or another communications-related subject. Technical writing jobs may require candidates to have both a degree and knowledge of a technical field, such as engineering, computer science, or medicine.
Work Experience in a Related Occupation
Some technical writers begin their careers as specialists or research assistants in a technical field. They eventually develop technical communication skills and assume primary responsibilities for technical writing. In small firms, entry-level technical writers may work on projects right away; in large companies, beginning technical writers may shadow experienced writers and interact with specialists before being assigned projects.
Training
Many technical writers need short-term on-the-job training to adapt their narrative style to a descriptive style of writing.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Some associations, including the Society for Technical Communication , offer certification for technical writers. In addition, the American Medical Writers Association offers extensive continuing education programs and certificates in medical writing. These certificates are available to professionals in the medical and scientific communication fields.
Although not mandatory, these credentials demonstrate competence and professionalism, making candidates more attractive to employers. A professional credential also may increase a technical writer’s opportunities for advancement.
Advancement
Prospects for advancement generally include working on projects that are more complex and leading or training junior staff.
Technical writers typically have an interest in the Thinking, Creating and Organizing interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Thinking interest area indicates a focus on researching, investigating, and increasing the understanding of natural laws. The Creating interest area indicates a focus on being original and imaginative, and working with artistic media. The Organizing interest area indicates a focus on working with information and processes to keep things arranged in orderly systems.
If you are not sure whether you have a Thinking or Creating or Organizing interest which might fit with a career as a technical writer, you can take a career test to measure your interests.
Technical writers should also possess the following specific qualities:
Communication skills . Technical writers must be able to take complex, technical information and translate it for colleagues and consumers who have nontechnical backgrounds.
Detail oriented . Technical writers create detailed instructions for others to follow. As a result, they must be detailed and precise at every step so that the instructions can be useful.
Imagination . Technical writers must be able to think about a procedure or product in the way that a person without technical experience would think about it.
Teamwork . Technical writers must be able to work well with others. They are almost always part of a team: with other writers; with designers, editors, and illustrators; and with the technical people whose information they are explaining.
Technical skills . Technical writers must be able to understand and then explain highly technical information. Many technical writers need a background in engineering or computer science in order to do this.
Writing skills . Technical communicators must have excellent writing skills to be able to explain technical information clearly.
The median annual wage for technical writers was $72,850 in May 2019. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $44,320, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $117,250.
In May 2019, the median annual wages for technical writers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Publishing industries (except Internet) | $77,120 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 73,960 |
| Administrative and support services | 73,170 |
| Manufacturing | 73,160 |
Technical writers may be expected to work evenings and weekends to meet deadlines. Most work full time.
Employment of technical writers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations.
The continuing expansion of scientific and technical products and growth in Web-based product support will drive employment demand for technical writers. Growth and change in the high-technology and electronics industries will result in a greater need for those who can write instruction manuals and communicate information clearly to users.
Professional, scientific, and technical services firms are expected to continue to grow rapidly and should be a good source of new jobs even as the occupation finds acceptance in a broader range of industries.
Job Prospects
Job opportunities, especially for applicants with technical skills, are expected to be good. The growing reliance on technology and the increasing demand for complex medical and scientific information will create job opportunities for technical writers. However, there will be competition among freelance technical writers.
For more information about technical writers, visit
American Medical Writers Association
National Association of Science Writers
Society for Technical Communication