Trends Technical communication has become an increasingly essential occupation in business and government, and jobs can be found in almost any industry sector because of the need for users guides, instruction manuals, and training materials. Demand for Technical Writers is expected to grow because of the need to communicate new scientific and technical information to others. Industry expansion will provide most new jobs, although many new jobs will also be created by those who leave the occupation. These figures do not include self-employed workers, whose earnings may be higher in some cases. For further salary information see the annual salary survey conducted by the Society for Technical Communication and posted to their web page listed in the Other Sources of Information section at the end of this guide.
Some companies pay time and one-half for overtime, while others offer compensatory time off.
Self-employed Technical Writers need to carefully estimate the number of hours needed to complete a project when they contract for a project. Benefits Fringe benefits available in some companies include vacation, holidays, flexible hours, sick leave, bonuses, profit-sharing, health and life insurance, and retirement plans. Self-employed Technical Writers must pay for their own insurance. Some firms will only hire experienced writers who specialize in one field of technology, but many employers prefer applicants with a four-year college degree in communications, engineering, or journalism, or those possessing a degree or certificate in technical writing. Some employers require a strong background of technical knowledge and experience, combined with writing skills.