### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Technical Writers Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			technical writers imageTechnical writers routinely work with other technology experts.							
						Quick Facts:     Technical Writers2023     Median Pay
            						$80,050     per year
										$38.49     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Bachelor's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    Less than 5 yearsOn-the-job Training
                                    Short-term on-the-job trainingNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    53,300Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    7% (Faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    3,700What Technical Writers Do
                                                
                        
                        
Technical writers prepare instruction manuals, how-to guides, journal articles, and other supporting documents to communicate complex and technical information more easily.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Most technical writers work full time. Although technical writers work in a variety of industries, they are concentrated in the computer and management, scientific, and technical industries.
            
                                                How to Become a Technical Writer
                                                
                        
Technical writers typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation. In addition, knowledge of or experience with a technical subject, such as science or engineering, is beneficial.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for technical writers was $80,050 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of technical writers is projected to grow							 7 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 4,800 openings for technical writers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for technical writers.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of technical writers with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about technical writers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Technical Writers Do 
            

			Technical writersTechnical writers often create diagrams to show users how a product works.			
Technical writers, also called *technical communicators*, prepare instruction manuals, how-to guides, journal articles, and other supporting documents to communicate complex and technical information more easily. They also develop, gather, and disseminate technical information through an organization’s communications channels.
Duties
Technical writers typically do the following:
Determine the needs of users of technical documentation
Study product samples and talk with product designers and developers
Work with technical staff to make products and instructions easier to use
Write or revise supporting content for products
Edit material prepared by other writers or staff
Incorporate animation, graphs, illustrations, or photographs to increase users’ understanding of the material
Select appropriate medium, such as manuals or videos, for message or audience
Standardize content across platforms and media
Collect user feedback to update and improve contentTechnical writers create paper-based and digital operating instructions, how-to manuals, assembly instructions, and “frequently asked questions” pages to help technical support staff, consumers, and other users within a company or an industry. After a product is released, technical writers also may work with product liability specialists and customer-service managers to improve the end-user experience through product design changes.
Technical writers often work with computer hardware engineers, computer support specialists, and software developers to manage the flow of information among project workgroups during development and testing. Therefore, technical writers must be able to understand and discuss complex information with people of diverse occupational backgrounds.
Technical writers may serve on teams that conduct usability studies to improve product design. Technical writers may research topics through visits to libraries and websites, discussions with technical specialists, and observation.
Technical writers are also responsible for managing the consistency of technical content and its use across departments including product development, manufacturing, marketing, and customer relations.
Some technical writers help write grant proposals for research scientists and institutions.
Increasingly, technical information is delivered online and through social media. Technical writers use the interactive technologies of the Web and social media to blend text, graphics, multidimensional images, sound, and video.
 Work Environment
			Technical writersTechnical writers usually work in offices.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Technical writers held about 53,300 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of technical writers were as follows:
        Professional, scientific, and technical services
                38%Manufacturing
                13Administrative and support services
                9Publishing industries
                6Self-employed workers
                6Most 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.
 How to Become a Technical Writer

			Technical writersSome technical writers work on a freelance basis.			
Technical writers typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation. 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, communications, journalism, or a related field. Technical writing jobs may require candidates to have knowledge of a technical field, such as engineering or computer and information technology.
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.
Important Qualities
***Critical-thinking skills*.** Technical writers must be able to simplify complex, technical information for colleagues and consumers who have nontechnical backgrounds.
***Detail oriented*.** Technical writers create instructions for others to follow. As a result, they must be precise about every step.
***Imagination*.** Technical writers must think about a procedure or product as if they are someone who does not have technical knowledge.
***Teamwork*.** Technical writers must be able to work well with other writers, designers, editors, illustrators, and the technical workers whose procedure or product they are explaining.
***Technical skills*.** Technical writers must be able to understand complex information. Technical writers may benefit from a background in fields such as engineering or science.
***Writing skills*.** Technical communicators must have excellent writing skills to be able to explain technical information clearly.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Technical WritersMedian annual wages, May 2023Technical writers$80,050  Media and communication workers$66,320  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for technical writers was $80,050 in May 2023. 


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 $48,630, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $129,440.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for technical writers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Administrative and support services
                $83,010Publishing industries
                81,290Professional, scientific, and technical services
                80,410Manufacturing
                79,480Technical writers may be expected to work evenings and weekends to meet deadlines. Most work full time.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
               Technical WritersPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Technical writers7%  Media and communication workers3%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of technical writers is projected to grow				 7 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 4,800 openings for technical writers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
As product innovation continues, technical writers will be needed to convert complex information into a format that nontechnical users of these products understand. The continuing expansion of scientific and technical products and growth in digital product support needs will drive employment demand for these writers.
			

                        Employment projections data for     technical writers, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Technical writers**
			27-3042
			53,300
			57,000
			7
			3,700
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Technical writers **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of technical writers. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Computer Hardware Engineers**
            Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop, and test computer systems and components.
            Bachelor's degree
            $138,080**Computer Programmers**
            Computer programmers write, modify, and test code and scripts that allow computer software and applications to function properly.
            Bachelor's degree
            $99,700**Editors**
            Editors plan, review, and revise content for publication.
            Bachelor's degree
            $75,020**Interpreters and Translators**
            Interpreters and translators convert information from one language into another language.
            Bachelor's degree
            $57,090**Public Relations and Fundraising Managers**
            Public relations managers direct the creation of materials that will enhance the public image of their employer or client. Fundraising managers coordinate campaigns that bring in donations for their organization.
            Bachelor's degree
            $130,480**Public Relations Specialists**
            Public relations specialists create and maintain a positive public image for the clients they represent.
            Bachelor's degree
            $66,750**Writers and Authors**
            Writers and authors develop written content for various types of media.
            Bachelor's degree
            $73,690
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about technical writers, visit
American Medical Writers Association
National Association of Science Writers
Society for Technical Communication
CareerOneStop
For a career video on technical writers, visit
Technical writers

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Technical Writers
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Technical Writers, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/technical-writers.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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