Technical Writers in Iowa
Considering working as a Technical Writers in Iowa? Here’s what you need to know. Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.
What do Technical Writers Make in Iowa?
For technical writers working in Iowa, the typical annual salary is $63,680 per year (or about $30.61/hour).Earnings range from $50,160 at the 10th percentile to $87,370 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,160 | $24.12 |
| 25th percentile | $54,580 | $26.24 |
| Median (50th) | $63,680 | $30.61 |
| 75th percentile | $77,990 | $37.49 |
| 90th percentile | $87,370 | $42.01 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Iowa nationwide is 1.20, meaning that technical writers are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, technical writers earn a median of $52,099 per year ($25.05/hour), higher than the Iowa median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 371,429 technical writers across the United States. In Iowa alone, around 680 people work in this role. That matches the typical state median of 680.
Top Iowa Metros for Technical Writers
The largest metro-area employers of technical writers in Iowa.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 210 | $66,730 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 110 | $61,450 |
| Dubuque, IA | 90 | $54,490 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 60 | $64,170 |
| Iowa City, IA | 60 | $66,370 |
Top States for Technical Writers Employment
View the states that employ the most technical writers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 13,210 |
| Texas | 3,670 |
| Florida | 2,590 |
| Virginia | 2,520 |
| New York | 2,030 |
| North Carolina | 2,000 |
| Colorado | 1,820 |
| Maryland | 1,770 |
| Massachusetts | 1,750 |
| Georgia | 1,710 |
| Washington | 1,680 |
| Ohio | 1,570 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,390 |
| New Jersey | 1,350 |
| Minnesota | 1,210 |
| Illinois | 1,180 |
| Michigan | 1,170 |
| Indiana | 1,070 |
| Connecticut | 1,040 |
| Alabama | 830 |
Highest-Paying States for Technical Writers
Where technical writers earn the most: technical writers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $109,400 |
| Colorado | $103,960 |
| Massachusetts | $102,640 |
| Rhode Island | $100,580 |
| California | $100,440 |
| Maryland | $98,350 |
| Washington | $93,230 |
| New Hampshire | $91,710 |
| District of Columbia | $89,180 |
| North Carolina | $87,330 |
Skills
Key technical writers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for technical writers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, technical writers typically:
- Organize material and complete writing assignment 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 material.
- Interview production and engineering personnel and read journals and other material to become familiar with product technologies and production methods.
- Develop or maintain online help documentation.
- Assist in laying out material for publication.
- Study drawings, specifications, mockups, and product samples to integrate and delineate technology, operating procedure, and production sequence and detail.
- Arrange for typing, duplication, and distribution of material.
- Observe production, developmental, and experimental activities to determine operating procedure and detail.
- Review manufacturer's and trade catalogs, drawings and other data relative to operation, maintenance, and service of equipment.
- Analyze developments in specific field to determine need for revisions in previously published materials and development of new material.
Work Activities
- Working with Computers
- Getting Information
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Processing Information
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Thinking Creatively
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Creative Cloud software, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop In-demand technologies: Atlassian Confluence, Atlassian JIRA
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
- Writing Studies
- Corporate Communications
- Public Relations & Advertising
- Human Sciences Business Services
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Other careers like technical writers include:
- Project Management Specialists
- Management Analysts
- Computer Systems Analysts
- Database Administrators
- Computer Programmers
- Software Developers
Also Known As
Assembly Instructions Writer, Clinical Writer, Contracts Writer, Document Specialist, Documentation Designer, Documentation Specialist, Documentation Writer, Engineering Documentation Specialist, Engineering Writer, Grant Writer, Handbook Writer, Health Science Writer, Health Technical Writer, Information Developer, Lexicographer.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 27-3042.00
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