How to Become a Technical Writer
Write technical content such as equipment manuals, appendices, operating instructions, and software documentation. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $90,390 per year and slower than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$90,390/yr
Middle half
$70,880 to $115,510
Job growth
Slower than average
Openings / yr
4,500
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Technical Writing
- Documentation Tools
- Information Architecture
- Editing
- Subject Matter Research
Helpful certifications
- Certified Professional Technical Communicator (CPTC)
- Google Technical Writing Courses
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
90/100
Work-life balance
78/100
Stress level
22/100
Satisfaction
70/100
Related careers
- Public Relations Specialist$74,750 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Technical Writer make?
The median pay for a Technical Writer is $90,390 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $70,880 and $115,510 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Technical Writer?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are English, Technical Communication, Computer Science, Journalism, and Engineering.
Is Technical Writer a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is slower than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 4,500 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Technical Writer use most?
Common skills for this role are Technical Writing, Documentation Tools, Information Architecture, Editing, and Subject Matter Research.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).