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Technical Writer
O*NET-SOC: 27-3041.00
Technology
Creates clear, concise documentation such as user manuals, how-to guides, API references, and online help content that explains complex technical information to diverse audiences.
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$75K
Median Salary
+7%
Growing
Bachelor's Degree
Min. Education
Good Balance
Work-Life Balance
About This Role
Technical writers translate complex information into clear, usable documentation that helps people understand and use products, software, or processes. They spend their days interviewing engineers, product managers, and other subject-matter experts to learn how something works, then organise that knowledge into guides, tutorials, help articles, and reference documents that non-experts can follow. A morning might involve joining a team meeting to learn about an upcoming product release, then sitting down with a developer to walk through a new feature step by step before drafting instructions.
A Day in the Life
8:30 AM
Inbox and planning
Check task tracker for new documentation requests, prioritise drafts in progress, and note which subject-matter experts to follow up with.
9:00 AM
Team stand-up
Join a short team meeting to share progress on current documents and flag anything waiting on someone else's review.
9:30 AM
Expert interview
Meet with an engineer or product manager over video call to walk through a new feature and clarify how it works.
11:00 AM
Focused writing block
Draft a tutorial or reference guide, working through each step and writing clear instructions with code examples where needed.
12:30 PM
Lunch and self-editing
Take a break, then review the morning's draft for clarity, consistency, and alignment with the team's style guide.
1:30 PM
Peer review
Review a colleague's documentation, leave comments on unclear sections, and incorporate feedback on your own drafts.
3:00 PM
Visuals and testing
Capture fresh screenshots of the product, update diagrams, and test the documented steps to make sure they still work.
4:30 PM
Publish and plan ahead
Upload the finished document to the documentation site, preview how it looks, and plan tomorrow's writing priorities.
Tools & Technologies
- Graphics & Design
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Word Processing
- Microsoft Word
- Google Docs
- Adobe InCopy
- After the Deadline
- AutoCrit Editing Wizard
- Web & Social Media
- Facebook
- WordPress
- CMS
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- CCI NewsGate
- Web Development
- Document Management
- Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Presentations
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Apple iWork Keynote
Salary Details
Salary Distribution
Salary distribution for Technical Writer: 10th percentile $36K, 25th $50K, median $75K, 75th $101K, 90th $141K Median $36K $50K $75K $101K $141K
Most professionals earn between $50K and $101K
Technical Writer salary percentile distribution Percentile Salary 10th $36K 25th $50K 50th (Median) $75K 75th $101K 90th $141K
Salary by State
Technical Writer salary by state map
Technical Writer salary by state State Median Salary Salary Range New York $99K $56K - $175K Delaware $92K $45K - $103K California $91K $48K - $168K Washington $85K $57K - $133K Connecticut $82K $38K - $156K District of Columbia $82K $61K - $168K Virginia $79K $44K - $130K Massachusetts $79K $48K - $138K West Virginia $77K $28K - $100K Colorado $76K $44K - $114K Oregon $73K $40K - $109K Maryland $73K $45K - $123K Illinois $68K $39K - $117K Georgia $67K $39K - $127K New Hampshire $66K $35K - $116K Rhode Island $65K $38K - $107K Florida $64K $36K - $134K North Carolina $64K $38K - $101K Pennsylvania $64K $37K - $126K Nevada $63K $39K - $95K Vermont $63K $45K - $137K Michigan $62K $31K - $104K Arizona $62K $36K - $106K Ohio $61K $42K - $106K New Mexico $61K $38K - $132K Utah $60K $37K - $114K Wisconsin $59K $37K - $93K Missouri $59K $35K - $97K Iowa $59K $40K - $97K South Carolina $58K $26K - $116K Hawaii $58K $31K - $134K Kentucky $57K $30K - $110K South Dakota $57K $43K - $67K North Dakota $57K $29K - $90K Alaska $55K $35K - $78K Kansas $54K $28K - $92K Minnesota $54K $40K - $98K Indiana $52K $22K - $95K Tennessee $51K $35K - $94K Mississippi $50K $19K - $94K Louisiana $49K $28K - $70K Maine $48K $31K - $101K Idaho $47K $35K - $80K Oklahoma $46K $28K - $81K Montana $45K $35K - $70K Alabama $45K $27K - $92K Arkansas $45K $23K - $75K Wyoming $43K $19K - $111K Nebraska $40K $25K - $78K Texas $29K $28K - $89K
Technical Writer salary by state State Median Salary Salary Range New York $99K $56K - $175K Delaware $92K $45K - $103K California $91K $48K - $168K Washington $85K $57K - $133K Connecticut $82K $38K - $156K District of Columbia $82K $61K - $168K Virginia $79K $44K - $130K Massachusetts $79K $48K - $138K West Virginia $77K $28K - $100K Colorado $76K $44K - $114K Oregon $73K $40K - $109K Maryland $73K $45K - $123K Illinois $68K $39K - $117K Georgia $67K $39K - $127K New Hampshire $66K $35K - $116K Rhode Island $65K $38K - $107K Florida $64K $36K - $134K North Carolina $64K $38K - $101K Pennsylvania $64K $37K - $126K Nevada $63K $39K - $95K Vermont $63K $45K - $137K Michigan $62K $31K - $104K Arizona $62K $36K - $106K Ohio $61K $42K - $106K New Mexico $61K $38K - $132K Utah $60K $37K - $114K Wisconsin $59K $37K - $93K Missouri $59K $35K - $97K Iowa $59K $40K - $97K South Carolina $58K $26K - $116K Hawaii $58K $31K - $134K Kentucky $57K $30K - $110K South Dakota $57K $43K - $67K North Dakota $57K $29K - $90K Alaska $55K $35K - $78K Kansas $54K $28K - $92K Minnesota $54K $40K - $98K Indiana $52K $22K - $95K Tennessee $51K $35K - $94K Mississippi $50K $19K - $94K Louisiana $49K $28K - $70K Maine $48K $31K - $101K Idaho $47K $35K - $80K Oklahoma $46K $28K - $81K Montana $45K $35K - $70K Alabama $45K $27K - $92K Arkansas $45K $23K - $75K Wyoming $43K $19K - $111K Nebraska $40K $25K - $78K Texas $29K $28K - $89K
Lower ($29K-$64K)Middle (~$64K)Higher ($64K-$99K)
Highest Paying States
- 1.New York$99K
- 2.Delaware$92K
- 3.California$91K
- 4.Washington$85K
- 5.Connecticut$82K
Lowest Paying States
- 1.Texas$29K
- 2.Nebraska$40K
- 3.Wyoming$43K
- 4.Arkansas$45K
- 5.Alabama$45K
Certifications, Training & Memberships
Recommended
Google Technical Writing Certificate
Google
Course
Covers documentation processes, Markdown, diagrams for tech comm beginners.
Helpful
Certified Professional Technical Communicator (CPTC) Foundation
Society for Technical Communication
Certification
Assesses core skills in planning, content creation, and delivery.
Professional Memberships
Society for Technical Communication Membership
Society for Technical Communication
Membership
Access to resources, conferences, and networking for tech writers.
Work Environment
Remote Work Fully Remote
Work Setting Traditional office / indoor
Physical Activity Mostly sedentary
Social Interaction Highly collaborative — frequent team interaction
Schedule Extended hours common
Your Skills & Attributes
Skills & Competencies Matches (48)
Strong Match
Strong Match
Good Match
Moderate Match
Moderate Match
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Technical Writer a good career?
Technical Writer can be a rewarding career choice. Based on current data, the median salary is $75K and job outlook is growing (7% projected growth). Whether it's a good fit depends on your skills, interests, and values — take our quiz to find out how well you match.
What degree do you need to become a Technical Writer?
The typical education requirement for a Technical Writer is a Bachelor's Degree. However, requirements can vary by employer and specialization. Some professionals enter the field with alternative credentials or relevant work experience.
How long does it take to become a Technical Writer?
Becoming a Technical Writer typically requires about 4 years of undergraduate study. Additional time may be needed for certifications, internships, or on-the-job training depending on the specific role and employer requirements.
What is the work-life balance like for a Technical Writer?
The work-life balance for a Technical Writer is generally considered good, with reasonable hours and manageable workloads. Individual experiences vary based on employer, specialization, seniority level, and geographic location.
What is the job outlook for Technical Writer?
The job outlook for Technical Writer is growing. Employment is projected to grow by 7% over the coming decade. Labor market conditions can vary by region and specialization.
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