What does a technical writer do?

Technical writers create instruction manuals, how-to guides, journal articles, and other supporting documents that present complex technical information more easily. Technical writers are professional writers. They develop instructions and how-tos directed at consumers.

As a technical writer, you would be writing out the answers to commonly asked questions for businesses and, work directly with your clients to create and write content precisely for them.

The most used media by both technical and content writers is writing. They are, however, not the same thing. The biggest difference lies in the intention of the writing. While content writers try to sell a product or idea, technical writers describe a product or service.

Technical writer tasks and responsibilities

As a technical writer, the various roles you are expected to perform vary from one field to another. However, some responsibilities cut across all technical writers. Specific responsibilities include:

• Simplifying documentation: Technical writers take big concepts and make them less difficult for others to read and grasp. The simplification of documents and materials into workable pieces will grant a better understanding on behalf of consumers, as well as offer insight and answers to questions.
• Editing: You are supposed to edit and proofread documents, manuals, and other written work assigned to you by your employer. Proofreading and editing have the main purposes of making the writing concise and straightforward, preventing the publication of writing errors.
• Communicating: Technical writers have to communicate through the written word. You also have to communicate with your coworkers, employers and others. You get feedback from consumers and apply that information to what you’re writing.

Work Environment of a Technical Writer

1. Reasons Why Work-Life Balance is Key for Technical Writers

Technical writers need to develop complex information into clear, concise, and user-friendly documentation, understand the inner complexities of technology, and meet tight deadlines while serving varied audiences. A proper work-life balance is essential for maintaining the high degree of precision and attention to detail that this position requires.

2. Preserving Attention to Detail

The task of a technical writer is to create perfect documentation; for this, a person needs to concentrate their attention and have an eye for every detail. A balanced lifestyle prevents fatigue and cognitive overload, possibly leading to mistakes, meaning the quality and accuracy of their work are maintained.

3. Reducing Cognitive Overload and Enhancing Clarity

The nature of technical writing is often processing large amounts of complex information. A work-life balance lets Technical Writers get themselves back and clear their minds, a necessary ingredient when distilling technical jargon into explicit, understandable content for an audience.

4. Encouraging Continuous Learning and Skill Development

Technical writers must keep up with constantly changing industry trends and new technologies. A balanced work-life schedule can provide the time needed for continuous education and professional development, essential in writing relevant and current documentation.

5. Strengthening Communication and Collaboration

Technical writing is one of those fields that may demand clear communication with peers or subject matter experts. Overall, work-life balance improves interpersonal skills, such as patience, which should pay off in better collaborations.

6. Maintaining Creativity and Problem-Solving

Although technical writing is highly structured, there is still an enormous scope for creative solutions while presenting information in an accessible manner. A balanced life inspires creativity and problem-solving for innovative strategies in documentation.

7. Supporting Personal Well-Being and Job Satisfaction

The mental burden of technical writing can be very intense at times. Balancing work pressures with personal life and time to rest is crucial for maintaining one’s mental health, general well-being, and job satisfaction. It could also contribute to lower turnover, which leads to the stability of the working environment.

How to Become a Technical Writer

1. College Education

College educations certainly help when it comes to most career paths, and technical documentation is not excluded. Most firms hiring for a technical writing/communication position require one with a bachelor’s level. Still, several may ask for one to master the arts or even specific additional knowledge in that branch of expertise.

1. Books

Besides higher education, books on technical writing are not few. Many intelligent and experienced people with superb writing skills have spent years developing expertise in this field – technical writing. Some of them have also written numerous good books sharing their knowledge and experience in the technical field. Avail yourself of those books to your total advantage.

1. Learn the Tools and Other Requirements

As you apply for jobs as a technical writer, you will realize employers want particular knowledge and experience. If they say that the job requires specific software tools or eLearning authoring tools, languages, etc., they mean it. Look at job postings online; you can see the same items popping up repeatedly.

1. Writing Samples

Be prepared to provide prospective employers with a variety of writing samples. Employers want to know that you can write well, know your way around certain software products, and produce excellent output regarding your technical communication.

1. Short-Term Contracts

Consider, in the beginning, short-term contracts as a technical staff member. For my first year as a technical writer, I worked for a company that outsourced services to various companies, and that is one good way to have your projects from a couple of days up to just a month or two.

1. Internship

Do you need help getting an interview from any company? We all have been there. It takes work, even if you are an excellent technical writer.

You might create opportunities for yourself by approaching companies about an unpaid internship to gain experience and build your tech writing skills. I know that may not sound too attractive—not getting paid. Just remember to think of this as a long-term investment in your career. You could also commit to the internship on a short-term, part-time basis.

Pay

The technical writing industry has always formed the backbone of clear, concise communication in technology. Today, the role of a technical writer is pivotal in this regard. As this industry evolves with new tools and methodologies, so is the demand for skilled writers who can keep pace with these changes. Salary trends are a useful lens through which we look at the industry’s health, investment in critical communicators, and market valuation of their contribution. To set the scene for today, let’s glance back at some key insights from 2023 that give us some grounds to consider where the industry might go.

Fundamental Salary Trends from 2023

Average Salaries for Technical Writers in 2023

The average salary for a technical writer in 2023 is higher and more promising because the industry gives more recognition to the professional expertise involved. A technical writer’s recorded average annual income in 2023 was around $75,000. For example, to answer the question ‘How much does a Technical Writer make?’, Salary.com gives the following:

As of June 27, 2024, the average salary of a Technical Writer is $77,157, although the salary range is from $69,458 to $86,315. Compensation may vary extensively depending on your location, company performance, industries, education, certifications, additional skills, and years spent in your profession.

Those with more than five years of experience earn an average of about $80,000 – $85,000. According to Squibler, the average compensation for a Technical Writer with two to five years of experience is $78,099. This upward trend speaks to the ever-growing expanse of technical writing and its importance across industries.

Job Outlook

Salaries and positions in technical writing will continue to fluctuate over the next several years, depending on various factors. There will be an increased demand for technical writers, especially in technological fields, healthcare, and engineering. As long as a company needs clear, concise documentation, skilled writers will be required. Salaries are expected to increase, with premium increases for specialized roles such as API documentation writers and those dealing in emerging technologies.

Pros and Cons of Being a Technical Writer

A career in technical writing has to consider some of the challenges likely to be encountered. For example, a person may have to spend a lot of time and money acquiring the knowledge and skills needed. Besides, it is challenging to get entry-level experience. Technical writing is also a sedentary profession, and no travelling is involved. At the same time, technical writing is a demanding profession that requires much time and energy from others, perhaps more creative writing pursuits. The work for a company that already has a set of document guidelines can be frustrating, and the profession can sometimes be considered dry and unimaginative.

Conclusion

Generally, the outlook for technical writers is bright. More jobs are being created than are being filled, particularly in the high-technology industry. Once employed, a technical writer works on various projects, many representing the cutting edge of science and technology. The field supports female professionals; more than half of all technical writers are women. While most technical writers are between the ages of twenty-five and forty-four, about 20 per cent are over fifty-five.