Arts, Design, Media & Sports
Technical Writers
Also called: Com Writer, Engineering Writer, Global Technical Writer, Grant Writer
US median pay
$90,390
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+0.8%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
3,200
46,400 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Analyze developments in specific field to determine need for revisions in previously published materials and development of new material.
- Review published materials and recommend revisions or changes in scope, format, content, and methods of reproduction and binding.
- Select photographs, drawings, sketches, diagrams, and charts to illustrate material.
- Confer with customer representatives, vendors, plant executives, or publisher to establish technical specifications and to determine subject material to be developed for publication.
- 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.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Time Management3.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1/5
- Coordination3.0/5
- Persuasion2.9/5
- Social Perceptiveness2.8/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.8/5
- Negotiation2.6/5
- Operations Analysis2.5/5
Knowledge
- English Language4.8/5
- Computers and Electronics4.3/5
- Administrative3.8/5
- Communications and Media3.2/5
- Administration and Management3.2/5
- Public Safety and Security3.2/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree, plus less than 5 years of related work experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Associate's degree35%
- Bachelor's degree33%
- Some college16%
Who this job suits
Mostly Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Artistic
Creating, designing and self-expression
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.