Technical Writers in Washington
Want to work as a Technical Writers in Washington? Here’s what the data says. Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.
What do Technical Writers Make in Washington?
For a technical writers working in Washington, the median annual wage is $93,230 per year (or about $44.82/hour).Earnings range from $59,890 at the 10th percentile to $163,110 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $59,890 | $28.79 |
| 25th percentile | $75,970 | $36.52 |
| Median (50th) | $93,230 | $44.82 |
| 75th percentile | $124,180 | $59.70 |
| 90th percentile | $163,110 | $78.42 |
The job concentration index in Washington relative to the national average — is 1.32, suggesting 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), above the Washington median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 371,429 technical writers in the U.S.. In Washington alone, around 1,680 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 680 technical writers.
Top Washington Metros for Technical Writers
These are the Washington metros with the most technical writers in Washington.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,150 | $99,220 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 90 | $106,220 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 80 | $74,170 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 50 | $80,360 |
| Bellingham, WA | 30 | $80,360 |
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
These states pay the most for 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
The most important technical writers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for technical writers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- 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
Technologies frequently used: 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?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Writing Studies
- Corporate Communications
- Public Relations & Advertising
- Human Sciences Business Services
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Related occupations to 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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