All About Technical Writers
Technical Writer Job Description Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.
A Day in the Life of a Technical Writer
- Develop or maintain online help documentation.
- Confer with customer representatives, vendors, plant executives, or publisher to establish technical specifications and to determine subject material to be developed for publication.
- Maintain records and files of work and revisions.
- Interview production and engineering personnel and read journals and other material to become familiar with product technologies and production methods.
- Observe production, developmental, and experimental activities to determine operating procedure and detail.
- Review published materials and recommend revisions or changes in scope, format, content, and methods of reproduction and binding.
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Technical Writer Needed Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Technical Writers say are important on the job.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Other Technical Writer Job Titles
- Proposal Writer
- Global Technical Writer
- Health Technical Writer
- Director, Medical Writing
- Documentation Specialist/Technical Writer
Is There Going to be Demand for Technical Writers?
In the United States, there were 52,400 jobs for Technical Writer in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 10.9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 5,700 new jobs for Technical Writer by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 5,700 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Technical Writer are Nevada, Utah, and Washington. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Hawaii, or Illinois. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Technical Writers Make A Lot Of Money?
The average yearly salary of a Technical Writer ranges between $43,110 and $114,930.
Technical Writers who work in California, Washington, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Technical Writers in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $69,970 |
| Alaska | $72,250 |
| Arizona | $69,580 |
| Arkansas | $61,030 |
| California | $91,310 |
| Colorado | $80,250 |
| Connecticut | $81,290 |
| Delaware | $77,010 |
| District of Columbia | $86,120 |
| Florida | $62,710 |
| Georgia | $75,170 |
| Hawaii | $62,070 |
| Idaho | $61,710 |
| Illinois | $69,320 |
| Indiana | $65,130 |
| Iowa | $57,060 |
| Kansas | $62,020 |
| Kentucky | $71,610 |
| Louisiana | $68,120 |
| Maine | $65,030 |
| Maryland | $80,130 |
| Massachusetts | $89,630 |
| Michigan | $68,580 |
| Minnesota | $66,970 |
| Mississippi | $67,680 |
| Missouri | $58,840 |
| Montana | $55,700 |
| Nebraska | $60,580 |
| Nevada | $66,040 |
| New Hampshire | $76,020 |
| New Jersey | $84,280 |
| New Mexico | $76,640 |
| New York | $76,380 |
| North Carolina | $76,070 |
| North Dakota | $56,140 |
| Ohio | $63,340 |
| Oklahoma | $57,450 |
| Oregon | $68,320 |
| Pennsylvania | $70,060 |
| Rhode Island | $67,200 |
| South Carolina | $67,000 |
| South Dakota | $50,320 |
| Tennessee | $66,080 |
| Texas | $75,000 |
| Utah | $66,940 |
| Vermont | $74,730 |
| Virginia | $85,450 |
| Washington | $86,470 |
| West Virginia | $40,210 |
| Wisconsin | $59,480 |
| Wyoming | $64,010 |
What Tools & Technology do Technical Writers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Technical Writers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- JavaScript
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Git
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- Microsoft Project
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Structured query language SQL
- SAS
- IBM Notes
How to Become a Technical Writer
What kind of Technical Writer requirements are there?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Technical Writer?
Where Technical Writers Are Employed
Below are examples of industries where Technical Writers work:
References:
Image Credit: KOKUYO via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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