Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
Technical Writers
Technical Writers write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.
Table of contents
What they do
Technical Writers write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.
- Organize material and complete writing assignments according to set standards regarding order, clarity, conciseness, style, and terminology.
- Maintain records and files of work and revisions.
- Edit, standardize, or make changes to material prepared by other writers or establishment personnel.
- Select photographs, drawings, sketches, diagrams, and charts to illustrate the material.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Technical Writers organize material and complete writing assignments according to set standards regarding order, clarity, conciseness, style, and terminology. They maintain records and files of work and revisions.
A typical day for a Technical Writer will also include:
- Analyze developments in a specific fields to determine the need for revisions in previously published materials and development of new material.
- Select photographs, drawings, sketches, diagrams, and charts to illustrate the material.
- Develop or maintain online help documentation.
- Arrange for typing, duplication, and distribution of material.
- Edit, standardize, or make changes to material prepared by other writers or establishment personnel.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Technical Writers also observe production, developmental, and experimental activities to determine operating procedures and detail. They may also interview production and engineering personnel and read journals and other material to become familiar with product technologies and production methods.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Technical Writers review published materials and recommend revisions or changes in scope, format, content, and methods of reproduction and binding. They might also draw sketches to illustrate specified materials or assembly sequences.
In addition, they study drawings, specifications, mockups, and product samples to integrate and delineate technology, operating procedure, and production sequence and detail.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them confer with customer representatives, vendors, plant executives, or publishers to establish technical specifications and to determine subject material to be developed for publication.
To some Technical Writers, it is also their responsibility to arrange for typing, duplication, and distribution of material.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
68% said they were satisfied with their job and 41% said they found their job meaningful.
My first crack at technical writing (insurance industry) arose out of associated work as a fire monitor for the Alex Sill Company. Technical writing is, by nature, a specialty. Most narrowly defined it is the writing of manuals, workbooks, reports, assembly instructions, etc. and delivering the subject matter in a manner that is clear, concise, … Read More
Technical writing is a more detail-intensive task compared to other forms of writing. This means my day involves speaking to clients, analyzing the technical elements of a project, and then piecing together the content. I will often complete the research, write a structured layout (i.e. headings, main topics) and then begin writing. There are also … Read More
For me, being a technical writer proves to be an easy task especially if the person has already been thoroughly acquainted with the technical environment. The challenge this usually imposes though is the fact that I have to be specific with all the technicalities I am working on and at the same doit in such … Read More
I am a technical writer for The Critter Depot. We breed live crickets and roaches for reptile owners. Being a technical writer requires 95% research and 5% of actual writing. Part of The Critter Depot’s mission is to empower people and teach them how to breed their own insects. So my job is to write … Read More
I have been a technical writer during my time at a large IT services company. Most of the time I’d sit with developers, quality assurance professionals, and DevOps experts. Their conversations would always revolve around development, sprints, testing, load testing, etc. I was a technical writer who was tasked with writing the product description of … Read More
My name is Dale, and I’ve been a technical writer for over 8 years now. Being a technical writer is way more complicated than it seems. We’re different from creative writers. I’m not saying it’s harder or which one’s better. While creative writers drive the story, and their main task is to keep people engaged, … Read More
I’ve been working as a Certification Engineer in Aviation for 7 years. I write technical pieces for people not always sharing the same technical background as me. I write documents for the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) which has highly qualified engineers. So using technical terms was not an issue. But when I have to … Read More
I am a trained engineer, produced patents and many products for the company’s at which I have worked. I have written systems, products, and test specifications. I have written many technical books, and scores of magazine articles as well. The books are used at universities around the globe as teaching material for classes. What is … Read More
I’ve enjoyed being a technical writer for over thirty years. It’s a job that offers a lot of flexibility, the ability to learn new topics and meet people from the entire organization. There are technical writers for different industries and the requirements can vary. In general, the position requires excellent communication skills, both verbal and … Read More
I’ve been a technical writer/editor and marketing communicator for 30 years, having worked in the environmental consulting field for most of my career. I relish the opportunity to make the complex clear… to take a subject matter expert’s highly technical language and make it accessible to the layperson. Work as a technical writer involves a … Read More
Pros
Suitable for people who like to work with designs.
Suitable for people who wants job security and a good working condition.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
Very good salary.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Technical Writers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $45,510 to $57,960 per year or $22 to $28 per hour.
Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Highest (Top 10%) | $119,040 | $57 |
Senior (Top 25%) | $95,690 | $46 |
Median | $74,650 | $36 |
Junior (Bottom 25%) | $57,960 | $28 |
No experience (Bottom 10%) | $45,510 | $22 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Technical Writers based on their average annual salary.
Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $102680 | $49.37 |
Utility System Construction | $100710 | $48.42 |
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | $97790 | $47.02 |
Specialty Hospitals | $92960 | $44.69 |
Automotive Repair and Maintenance | $92660 | $44.55 |
Federal Executive Branch | $92090 | $44.27 |
Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance | $89170 | $42.87 |
Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers | $88570 | $42.58 |
Scientific Research and Development Services | $88570 | $42.58 |
Software Publishers | $87720 | $42.17 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Technical Writers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Technical Writers including the average salary in that industry.
Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
---|---|---|---|
Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 8320 | $81480 | $39.17 |
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 4020 | $76730 | $36.89 |
Employment Services | 3250 | $83500 | $40.15 |
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 3200 | $77490 | $37.25 |
Scientific Research and Development Services | 2880 | $88570 | $42.58 |
Software Publishers | 2170 | $87720 | $42.17 |
Management of Companies and Enterprises | 1570 | $77980 | $37.49 |
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 1480 | $77780 | $37.39 |
Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers | 1160 | $72200 | $34.71 |
Machinery Manufacturing | 1140 | $66480 | $31.96 |
What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Business/Corporate Communications
Grantsmanship
Business/Corporate Communications
Professional, Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing
Writing
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Communication
Technical and Scientific Communication
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like working with forms, designs, and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
They also like working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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