Technical Writers

Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.

$91,670

Median Annual Pay

Jobs growth:

+1% projected 2024–2034

Bachelor's degree

Typical Entry-Level Education

What They Do

Technical writers transform complex technical information into clear, user-friendly documentation that helps people understand and use products, systems, or services effectively. They create instruction manuals, online help guides, API documentation, training materials, and procedural guides for software applications, medical devices, engineering systems, and other technical products. Their work involves collaborating closely with engineers, developers, product managers, and subject matter experts to gather accurate information, then organizing and presenting it in a way that makes sense to the intended audience, whether that's end users, technicians, or other professionals.

Programs That Prepare You

College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies(doctoral)The University of Texas at Austin, TX

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies(masters)Northeastern University Professional Programs, MA

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies(masters)Northeastern University, MA

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies(masters)Mount Saint Mary's University, CA

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies(masters)Boston University, MA

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies(masters)Harvard University, MA

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies(masters)Bay Path University, MA

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies(masters)Lesley University, MA

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies(masters)University of Massachusetts-Boston, MA

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies(masters)Simmons University, MA

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies(masters)Western New England University, MA

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies(masters)University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, MA

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies(masters)The University of Texas at El Paso, TX

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies(masters)Ashland University, OH

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services(certificate)Alexandria Technical & Community College, MN

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies(doctoral)Duquesne University, PA

Business/Corporate Communications(bachelors)Bentley University, MA

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies(masters)Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus, NJ

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies(masters)Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus, NJ

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies(masters)Kennesaw State University, GA

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies(masters)Johns Hopkins University, MD

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services(bachelors)Syracuse University, NY

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies(masters)Boise State University, ID

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies(masters)Towson University, MD

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies(masters)Carnegie Mellon University, PA

Related Careers

Other occupations in Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Media