Tech Writer Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
To become a tech writer, one must obtain a degree in any science subject, engineering or business.
Training and Education
Successful employees find it useful to have a bachelor's degree. According to recent surveys, 74% of tech writers had received a degree. Workers with some schooling beyond high school, but not a college degree, total about 18%. A high school degree was all that was needed for 7% of employees.
Job Overview
A tech writer creates, designs and writes technical documents. He/she is responsible for the creation of documentation for a technical, consumer and business audience. Tech writers write documents which are authentic, concise and easily comprehensible.
Job Requirements
Tech writers usually abide by the common guidelines of publishing. They need to follow the formatting rules of the customary style guide. Most tech writers in the U.S. adhere to the Chicago Manual of Style. While working on projects related to the field of engineering, like those on aerospace related subjects or defense, tech writers stick to the international and national standards of documentation.
Tech writers need to conduct research to add more substance to their documents. In addition, a tech writer should have a good command over the language so he can analyze and create the technical material in a comprehensible and concise manner.
It is essential for tech writers to have a firm grasp over their subject matter and enjoy the job of writing. Curiosity and creativity is also necessary, but perseverance is essential in order to excel as a tech writer. Other qualities required in tech writers are a good sense of judgment and the ability to handle pressure.
Nature of Work
Tech writers make product documentation like operation manuals, project proposals and catalogs. Largely employed in the IT industry, tech writers prepare instructions for online help and documentation of programs on computers. Many need to work with engineers in order to create manuals for design and engineering equipment, which would help users operate those machines. Tech writers work as part of a writing or project development team. Upon completion of the drafting process, a tech writer may consult a peer for verification. Besides, tech writers plan and supervise the preparation of diagrams, charts and illustrations during the preparation of a technical document.
Tech writers generally work in comfortable and well lit offices. Though they mostly maintain regular hours at work, deadlines and urgent projects may occasionally force them to work overtime. Also, working with computers over long stretches may result in stress and other physical ailments.
Area Job Conditions
Looking at tech writers per capita, Warner Robins (Georgia), Framingham (Massachusetts), and Lowell (Massachusetts) rise to the top of the list. Columbia (South Carolina), Greensboro (North Carolina), and Nashville (Tennessee) have the fewest per capita.
The highest salaries for workers are in and around San Jose (California), Framingham (Massachusetts), and San Francisco (California). The lowest-paying areas are Springfield (Missouri), Missoula (Montana), and Port St. Lucie (Florida).
Part-Time and Self Employment
Tech writers working less than full time, whether by design or chance, were 7% of the total. If you have this occupation and work on your own rather than for another company, you are part of the 6% of workers who do so.
Career Videos
Tech Writers by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $53,000 | 120 | -28% |
| Huntsville | $57,000 | 400 | +487% |
| Montgomery | $48,000 | 60 | +13% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $63,000 | 360 | -40% |
| Tucson | $63,000 | 190 | +66% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | $49,000 | 70 | -40% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $61,000 | 40 | -54% |
| Los Angeles | $89,000 | 1,130 | -18% |
| Oakland | $82,000 | 370 | +9% |
| Oxnard | $79,000 | 230 | +132% |
| Riverside | $70,000 | 180 | -56% |
| Sacramento | $70,000 | 240 | -18% |
| San Diego | $78,000 | 720 | +62% |
| San Francisco | $79,000 | 650 | +93% |
| San Jose | $97,000 | 1,340 | +340% |
| San Luis Obispo | $80,000 | 40 | +38% |
| Santa Ana | $64,000 | 490 | -1% |
| Santa Barbara | $66,000 | 70 | +28% |
| Santa Rosa | $77,000 | 60 | +6% |
| Vallejo | $83,000 | 40 | +5% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $63,000 | 130 | +162% |
| Colorado Springs | $65,000 | 140 | +68% |
| Denver | $64,000 | 590 | +39% |
| Fort Collins | $69,000 | 70 | +74% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $63,000 | 140 | -2% |
| Hartford | $64,000 | 220 | +13% |
| New Haven | $63,000 | 40 | -56% |
| Norwich | $58,000 | 200 | +411% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $64,000 | 90 | -17% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $74,000 | 3,310 | +299% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | $61,000 | 150 | -37% |
| Fort Walton Beach | $53,000 | 120 | +410% |
| Jacksonville | $54,000 | 90 | -56% |
| Miami | $54,000 | 150 | -55% |
| Orlando | $54,000 | 410 | +19% |
| Palm Bay | $58,000 | 90 | +39% |
| Pensacola | $45,000 | 40 | -17% |
| Port St Lucie | $31,000 | 30 | -21% |
| Sarasota | $63,000 | 50 | -39% |
| Tallahassee | $50,000 | 40 | -24% |
| Tampa | $58,000 | 250 | -36% |
| West Palm Beach | $60,000 | 120 | -31% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $68,000 | 890 | +13% |
| Warner Robins | $49,000 | 120 | +651% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $55,000 | 120 | +38% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign | $51,000 | 30 | -7% |
| Chicago | $64,000 | 510 | -60% |
| Rockford | $61,000 | 40 | -12% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne | $59,000 | 40 | -40% |
| Indianapolis | $56,000 | 360 | +18% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $48,000 | 100 | +123% |
| Davenport | $68,000 | 60 | -2% |
| Des Moines | $46,000 | 140 | +27% |
| Dubuque | $47,000 | 60 | +277% |
| Iowa City | $56,000 | 70 | +223% |
| Waterloo | $47,000 | 40 | +50% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $52,000 | 330 | +244% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $57,000 | 30 | -62% |
| Louisville | $49,000 | 90 | -56% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | $53,000 | 80 | -55% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $68,000 | 810 | +82% |
| Bethesda | $71,000 | 710 | +263% |
| Hagerstown | $50,000 | 30 | -2% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $83,000 | 1,290 | +118% |
| Framingham | $81,000 | 320 | +503% |
| Lowell | $82,000 | 160 | +317% |
| Worcester | $72,000 | 70 | -16% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $58,000 | 160 | +194% |
| Detroit | $63,000 | 250 | +10% |
| Kalamazoo | $55,000 | 60 | +37% |
| Lansing | $53,000 | 50 | -23% |
| Warren | $63,000 | 410 | +12% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $65,000 | 780 | +29% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $54,000 | 390 | +13% |
| Springfield | $42,000 | 70 | +12% |
| St Louis | $58,000 | 610 | +34% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | 50 | +91% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $43,000 | 90 | +73% |
| Omaha | $54,000 | 170 | +7% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $48,000 | 160 | -45% |
| Reno | $64,000 | 40 | -36% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $74,000 | 30 | -8% |
| Nashua | $81,000 | 80 | +81% |
| Portsmouth | $73,000 | 30 | +73% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City | $63,000 | 60 | +28% |
| Camden | $70,000 | 120 | -32% |
| Edison | $73,000 | 460 | +32% |
| Newark | $77,000 | 430 | +26% |
| Trenton | $74,000 | 130 | +73% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $53,000 | 200 | +54% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $61,000 | 120 | -21% |
| Binghamton | $63,000 | 40 | +12% |
| Buffalo | $49,000 | 100 | -47% |
| Nassau | $68,000 | 210 | -51% |
| New York | $71,000 | 1,520 | -14% |
| Rochester | $63,000 | 130 | -24% |
| Syracuse | $56,000 | 40 | -62% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $62,000 | 200 | -31% |
| Durham | $79,000 | 210 | +129% |
| Greensboro | $54,000 | 40 | -67% |
| Raleigh | $70,000 | 450 | +158% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $38,000 | 30 | -23% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $49,000 | 60 | -44% |
| Cincinnati | $54,000 | 260 | -25% |
| Cleveland | $57,000 | 220 | -37% |
| Columbus | $65,000 | 270 | -14% |
| Dayton | $47,000 | 240 | +87% |
| Toledo | $63,000 | 40 | -59% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $49,000 | 260 | +33% |
| Tulsa | $41,000 | 120 | -17% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene | $72,000 | 40 | -12% |
| Portland | $70,000 | 500 | +44% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $63,000 | 70 | -40% |
| Harrisburg | $62,000 | 80 | -25% |
| Philadelphia | $71,000 | 750 | +15% |
| Pittsburgh | $56,000 | 400 | +3% |
| State College | $60,000 | 40 | +110% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $66,000 | 160 | -15% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $60,000 | 120 | +25% |
| Columbia | $63,000 | 60 | -49% |
| Greenville | $41,000 | 100 | 0% |
South Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $44,000 | 40 | -11% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $46,000 | 30 | -60% |
| Knoxville | $62,000 | 90 | -19% |
| Memphis | $58,000 | 110 | -47% |
| Nashville | $61,000 | 120 | -52% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | $57,000 | 690 | +158% |
| Dallas | $68,000 | 890 | +24% |
| Fort Worth | $54,000 | 300 | +2% |
| Houston | $60,000 | 760 | -15% |
| Killeen | $49,000 | 40 | -3% |
| San Antonio | $58,000 | 250 | -16% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogden | $57,000 | 90 | +37% |
| Provo | $60,000 | 70 | +26% |
| Salt Lake City | $57,000 | 330 | +60% |
Vermont
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $58,000 | 80 | +125% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $71,000 | 50 | +85% |
| Harrisonburg | $47,000 | 50 | +197% |
| Richmond | $59,000 | 170 | -18% |
| Virginia Beach | $68,000 | 390 | +52% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick | $73,000 | 110 | +248% |
| Seattle | $83,000 | 1,220 | +155% |
| Spokane | $52,000 | 40 | -41% |
| Tacoma | $64,000 | 40 | -55% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $57,000 | 120 | +6% |
| Milwaukee | $56,000 | 320 | +13% |